Airlift Northwest taking off from a remote landing zone in Deer Harbor. - by Nina Laramore
by Nina Laramore
Airlift Northwest taking off from a remote landing zone in Deer Harbor.

Airlift Northwest and OIFR use remote landing zones


April 4, 2009 · 4:04 PM

  • 0
  • Print Story
  • Letter/Editor

Orcas Island Fire and Rescue has established remote landing zones near outlying fire stations stations where Airlift Northwest helicopters can land to pick-up patients. Most of the medical flights leave from the Eastsound airport but sometimes weather, and sometimes patient care causes paramedics and pilots to use one of the alternate landing zones.

Last week, a patient from Deer Harbor experiencing chest pain was flown out using a remote landing zone.

"This transport saved precious time for the patient," Captain Maxx Jones said.

While the helicopter is landing, loading the patient and taking off the nearby road has to be closed. Last week few were inconvenienced by the 20 minutes the road was closed.

Occasionally, the OIFR has to change the landing areas, but always a Orcas resident with a field steps up to volunteer their land. Airlift Nortwest and the OIFR will then do a test run so the pilots can use GPS to learn the new landing zone location.

Comment on this story.

COMMENTING RULES: We encourage an open exchange of ideas in our online community, but we ask you to follow our guidelines for respecting community standards. In a nutshell, don't say anything you wouldn't want your mother to read.

So keep your comments:

  • Civil
  • Smart
  • On-topic
  • Free of profanity

We ask that all participants own their words by logging in with their Facebook account. It's a simple process that will take seconds and helps keep our comments free of trolls, cranks, and “drive-by” commenters. We reserve the right to remove comments from anyone using screen names, pseudonyms or false identities. Please see our FAQ if you have questions or concerns about using Facebook to comment.

blog comments powered by Disqus