32 lives saved by STARS Air Ambulance using Lyncrest Airport

STARS Air Ambulance (more photos to be posted once Peter is able to send them in)

Since August, 2012, over 32 lives have been saved by STARS Air Ambulance using Lyncrest Airport on the outskirts of Winnipeg in the RM of Springfield! Lyncrest Airport, Recreational Aircraft Association, Springfield Flying Club and the RM of Springfield are thrilled to be part of the behind-the-scenes network that enables Manitobans to benefit from the fastest and highest quality ambulance service. STARS begins 24 hour service in February, 2013! 

January 17th, 2013, at the RAA meeting, about 60 participants including first responders (fire, medic, and nurses) from Beausejour, Winnipeg and the RM of Springfield, teachers, St Andrews Scouts, Lyncrest neighbours, Ward 1 Councillor Bob Bodnaruk, fixed wing and helicopter pilots, counsellors, Harv's Air CFI Aaron, residents from the RM of Springfield, Winnipeg and surrounding area. 

The event began with an unexpected, REAL medi-vac (medical evacuation)! STARS Air Ambulance transferred a critically ill patient from Morden to the ground support ambulance waiting on the ground. In less than 15 minutes, the ambulance was on its way to St. Boniface hospital, shaving valuable minutes off the trip to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). 

STARS, Robyn Stewart and Troy Pauls, provided valuable insights as to the background and services provided by STARS Air Ambulance. Later the STARS Air Ambulance returned with pilots David Harding and Paul Adams doing two different approaches:

1. Hover landing, and

2. High hover and slow decent to touch down 

to demonstrate the two techniques used to reduce the effects of snow obscuration. Paul, David and Troy described times when there is lots of fresh snow blown around by the helicopter blades, when first responders from Fire Departments have had to stand on the landing spot so the pilots could use their uniforms as points of reference...apparently the fire crew is best suited for this because their clothing provides the most protection! Would be quite an experience for the fire crew member standing that close to the action!! 

The audience was spell bound as we were walked through a day in the life of a state-of-the-art service that the Manitoba government and private donations support. This service not only shortens time to the hospital, it saves community medical doctors’ time-expensive trips escorting critically ill patients to Winnipeg. For example, Swan River is only 2 hours away via the STARS Air Ambulance and six hours each way by ground support! The one-doctor medical unit closes if the medical doctor has to escort patients via ground support. With STARS, the community doctor remains at Swan River and the STARS medical crew (including a doctor!) is able to provide top quality medical service to the patient during the 2 hour trip to a Winnipeg hospital...leaving Swam Lake with their doctor and providing the patient with a significantly shorter journey when time saves lives!

In addition to search and rescue support, child birth difficulties, and other medical emergencies, STARS Air Ambulance services local emergencies. Whenever traffic jams, road or weather conditions make it difficult to get to an accident site, STARS helicopter is called to help - for example the multi car accident on the north Perimeter, another on Dugald Road, and numerous within the city limits during rush hour. 

The Recreational Aircraft Association, Springfield Flying Club, Lyncrest Airport, and RM of Springfield are proud to be able to support this significant health benefit for Manitobans. 

The 99s' Women of Aviation International Week event, March 9th, 2013 at St Andrews Airport, has invited STARS to display the STARS Air Ambulance at this event. Women are flying for free in small aircraft on March 9th; men are invited to visit all displays and check out the career opportunities in aviation. 

See http://womenfly2013.blogspot.com/ for details and register online at http://www.womenofaviationweek.org/rsvpmaker/winnipeg/ 

Retired Air Canada Captain Peter Moodie has captured both approaches and touch downs - the cloud of white is the fresh snow rolled into a ball of snow obscuration, controlled carefully by the pilots as they descent slowly to touch down. 

 You can just make out the STARS Air Ambulance's landing light.

The STARS Air Ambulance is equipped with several light systems, enabling them to land in the dark, without runway lights!...like a farmer's field, a road side, or an unlit runway.

 You can just make out a crowd of fascinated viewers attending the STARS presentation. Others who weren't dressed for the -25C + wind, plus the prop blast!, watched from the warmth of the Lyncrest Flight Centre community club with the wood fireplace crackling.

Following photos are credited to Rick Riewe, thank you Rick!

 STARS Air Ambulance helicopter landing at night, using their own lights to light up the landing area. They can land at an unlit farmers field, lake, rocky outcrop...all they need is 15 feet!!

 It was bitter cold during the STARS demo so some watched from inside the Lyncrst Flight Centre community club, which is available for rent beginning at only $150 contact Bert Elam (bert767@gmail.com).

 60 heads huddled in to check out the inside of the STARS Air Ambulance

 Paul, David and Troy, STARS Air Ambulance crew answer questions from the audience.

 Neighbour Candice and her son Kaeden were keen to see inside the helicopter as they had watched in land several times at night this week, transferring critically ill patients to Winnipeg hospitals.

 St Andrews Scout troupe at the STARS presentation; Justin, 2nd person from left on the couch is taking his pilots licence training!

 It was too cold for a group photo out by the STARS helicopter so we settled for one by the fireplace; couldn't fit everyone in the photo.