LZ class

[flyerthom]

My company has given me permission to use their LZ class for CAP. Two squadron commanders here are interested.

Here are some problems:
The company I work for is in another wing so getting a helicopter to the class isn't going to happen.

I can't scam any freebies from them because it isn't their  area.

Since two cadet squadrons want the class and are on Nellis AFB- their commanders might be able to go through the State Director and get a tour of a medical Black Hawk that solves one issue.

So my main question is, besides crawling on an egg beater, what would be nice to plug in the class if I can?

[arajca]

Contact the Flight For Life or aeromedical helicopter service in the area. They are usually very happy to help train responders in how to handle an LZ and they will generally be willing to bring a chopper over - if available - and have someone come to talk to the group about their service in particular and aeromedical services in general. They also usually bring swag - esp. for young people such as cadets.

An advantage to using a civilian aeromedical helicopter service is they usually respond to more civilian SAR missions than the military does and typically have a well developed program.

[Short Field]

Check to see if there are any local helicopters - like the police department that might help - espeically if you want a static display and LZ demo.  The rescue squadron at Nellis might help with the LZ demo as well.

[ammotrucker]

My company has given me permission to use their LZ class for CAP. Two squadron commanders here are interested.

Will your company allow others to use this same class, and if so how can I get my hands on a copy. 

We are having a SAREX in Jan, 08 that I feel this would be very helpfull in.  But, in real life not many of our membership that have this type training will participate.  I have contact at Life Flight and the County Sheriffs Aviation Dept for Helo's just need a good traing plan

[flyerthom]

Contact the Flight For Life or aeromedical helicopter service in the area. They are usually very happy to help train responders in how to handle an LZ and they will generally be willing to bring a chopper over - if available - and have someone come to talk to the group about their service in particular and aeromedical services in general. They also usually bring swag - esp. for young people such as cadets.

An advantage to using a civilian aeromedical helicopter service is they usually respond to more civilian SAR missions than the military does and typically have a well developed program.

We've tried to get the local bird in the past with no luck, that's why I'm using the program from the civilian operator where I currently work as a flight nurse. I'll be using the companies slides and am teaching how to set up the LZ.

I'd just need some ideas on how to tailor it for CAP rather than Fire or EMS.

[Pylon]

You could instruct on the FLM signals specific to rotorcraft, as well.  There's a whole set of handsignals for handling rotorcraft in an LZ.

Add LZ setup, a safety briefing on rotorcraft, and some AE about the dynamics of flight differences for rotorcraft and you've got at least a handful of materials that can be taught while waiting for whatever organization you arrange to come to your LZ.

[SJFedor]

You could instruct on the FLM signals specific to rotorcraft, as well.  There's a whole set of handsignals for handling rotorcraft in an LZ.

Add LZ setup, a safety briefing on rotorcraft, and some AE about the dynamics of flight differences for rotorcraft and you've got at least a handful of materials that can be taught while waiting for whatever organization you arrange to come to your LZ.

I work with medevac/Lifeflight helicopters in my *real world* job, and from all the crews I've talked to, they honestly prefer you just stay out of the way when they're landing. They do it all the time w/o a marshaller, and having one in front tends to be more of a safety hazard then anything else. If you have comms with the chopper, it never hurts to have someone way off to the back to watch the tail rotor though.

Like others have said, talk to the local medevac companies, either hospital or community based. Most of them have PR programs and established curriculum that they use to teach the agencies they respond to what their requirements for an LZ are and how you can help. Vanderbilt Lifeflight (the guys I get to play with) does programs regularly on LZ safety, security, and setup, and actually have a whole program where they fly out, do the presentation, etc etc. If you're in the southeast and/or midwest, take a look at see if AirEvac Lifeteam (ScareEvac) is around, they do those types of things as well.

[arajca]

I'd just need some ideas on how to tailor it for CAP rather than Fire or EMS.

Keep everything consistant - you really shouldn't need to tailor it, aside from changing "firefighter/EMT" to "CAP member".

[california IC]

Call Silver State Helicopters...

[Short Field]

Call Silver State Helicopters...

Just be sure to scrap the "Gillespie for Sheriff" bumper sticker off if you drive over.   

[flyerthom]

Call Silver State Helicopters...

[SJFedor]

Speaking of...

Saw this on the front page of flightweb earlier today, then saw it on the news this evening. Happened not too far from me.

http://www.wbir.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=51140

Ouch.

[NIN]

Yikes, what was he doing leaving the controls while the aircraft was running? Jeez....

As for LZ classes: The CW3 who was the OIC for the 67Y class I took about a century ago (when Igor himself wrote the Powerpoints) was also the Ops Director for the medivac folks in Grand Rapids, MI.  At the end of the year-long 67Y school, he ran their LZ class for the students.  While 90% of it was "duh!," there were 3-4 things of take-away for me.

Came in handy a couple months later when I was enroute home from drill on I-96 and there was a roll over accident in the median with police & fire in attendance.  They were just starting to setup the LZ when I pulled over, they took one look at the flight suit and said "You probably know more about this than we do!"  And sure enough, I think I did.

I setup the LZ, got them to establish a safety zone and didn't bother with marshaling.   The pilot was most appreciative.

Having done both internal & external loads from tight PZs and LZs, I always get a kick out of the dude who is obviously a very recent grad of Dope-on-a-Rope school.  When we go short-final over a slingload, or we're clear of final barriers with the load on the hook, the pilots are listening to nobody but they guy in the back with his eyeballs hanging out the cargo hole as to what is going on.  You could be lobbing RPGs at the helicopter and we don't care.

We did this arty-haul once where they had 2-3 Pathfinders working with the ROKs.  As the pilots called "Load under the nose, chief," and I was hanging out of the hole to spot, the non-flying pilot remarked that the Pathfinder standing 75 ft off our nose was making the CRAZIEST hand and arm signals he'd ever seen.  At one point he says "I think he just gave the 'battery disconnect' signal.. did you see that? Now he's telling us to, uh, I think he's asking for chocks now..." and we're all laughing our butts off while this guy is doing the frickin' Macarena out there and we're trying to get hooked up.

After we got hooked up and came up, I called the load clear for flight and as we flew over the guy, I shot him a massive bird from the cargo hole.   He probably didn't see it. Made me feel better.

He was still there when we came back for load #2 and he got a similar bird from me (while giving us signals like 'GPU connected' and 'Shutdown #2'..), except this time I was 1/2 hanging out of the belly of the aircraft, one arm wrapped around the cargo hook, shooting him a massive double bird with my free hand and the hand on the hook assembly.. 

He wasn't there for number 3... Not sure why...

When we had time to brief, we usually told them to worry about rotor clearance rather than telling us where to fly the hook. The Mk I, Mod 0 eyeball on the guy directly over the load was usually more accurate and gave the pilots far less white-knuckle.

EDIT: Oh, I almost forgot.  LZ classes for cadets are like passing out condoms at encampment: They get all excited about a subject that 99% of them will never have to deal with for many years...      But they love it anyway, and it makes a good ES "filler" class...

[stillamarine]

My first job in the Marine Corps was Landing Support Specialist and a lot of our job was doing external lifts. We always provided 2 "marshallers" but we all knew the only thing the pilots were keeping an eye on the for was a wave off signal. We also knew even if we gave a wave off, they were going to clear it with the guy in the back first.  Having said that we still gave all the hands arm signals required. We never gave any silly ones and were quite professional with what we did.

I tell you what, there are few things that are as fun as standing under a big ol CH-53E doing a dual point lift. I've had the actual opportunity to shake the hands of a crew chief as his helo hovered over head!

[floridacyclist]

Yeah, LZs can be interesting places no doubt

[NIN]

Yeah, LZs can be interesting places no doubt

Heheh, that guy sitting on the ramp... That was my job.

Mmmm, gosh, I miss that job. 

[floridacyclist]

I have to admit...that is one of my favorite pictures I've ever taken. About the only other one that comes close was the slab of a church in MS with a blue tarp stretched over a couple of poles, some folding chairs, the salvaged steeple and a spray-painted plywood sign announcing "Church - Sunday at 11"