An air traffic controller at Washington Dulles Airport (IAD) and a Medivac helicopter pilot got into a heated exchange. I’ve gotta say, they did a good job recovering, though, and not escalating further.
Continue reading: Washington ATC & Helicopter Pilot Argue: “I’m Not Trying To Have A DCA Incident”
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
Any rotary wing pilots able to discuss the distaste for hovering in place. Is it simply because it's not particularly easy to do or are there engineering/aerodynamics issues on top of that?
It takes higher power and at lower altitudes is not as safe in the event of something like an engine failure. Helicopters have a height/velocity curve they follow. Some forward airspeed is better than none as it's difference between possibility to auto-rotate with some level of control (comparable in theory to what an aircraft would do - glide - though not really the same) or drop like a rock if the engine fails.
I listened to this yesterday as well.... Agreed the pilot handled it well and that the ATC is under a lot of stress. I don't agree with questioning an active medical flight as to why it would be at a certain altitude. "Unable" should be end of story once the pilot in command relays that to ATC. The pilot was following ATC instructions. Perhaps ATC should have made clear what was said in the later clarifying remark from the start. If you are giving someone boundaries to be within, usually that should require at least two parameters if you want some semblance of control.
Not a rotary wing pilot, but my understanding is that hovering can also cause a vortex ring state, where the helicopter could enter the turbulent air beneath it caused by hovering and lose most of its lift. It's just much safer to keep moving.
I suspect many, if not most medivac flights are medically unnecessary. They happen with frequency in the US because there are private equity interests that have funded them. Is it really worth $50,000 to cut 20 minutes off what an ambulance transit time would be, particularly in an urban area?
I am a rated Helo pilot as well as airline pilot. While it is true that Helo pilots generally don't like to climb while stationary, it would have been no problem to climb to 2000' while in a circling/holding pattern. I'm guessing there was some other reason why the helo pilot didn't want to comply (perhaps the medical issues with the patient). Also, being at 2000' and having an engine failure is a better position to be in than at 700' (helo or fixed wing)
Not sure why you would fly from Stone Springs to Reston Hospital Center. It is only a 22 min drive (13 miles by Freeway). Ambulance could be quicker.
Two things...
The helo pilot may not have wanted to climb due to an issue with a patient. Even if he wasn't flying in an emergency capacity, there can medical reasons for wanting to keep a patient low and steady. That may have influenced his desire not to climb. Once he said unable, that should have been it from the controller's side. The pilot in command knows his aircraft and his situation best.
The controller didn't give the pilot instructions on what to do after saying to remain west. He didn't say hover, circle, go here, wait there, or anything. He essentially left it at the pilot's discretion. He shouldn't have gotten angry at the pilot; he should have been upset with himself for not being clearer. If he wanted the helo to remain west of something, then he should have said where west, and how to get there.
Engel, many who know, both in and operating air ambulance services outside the U.S, would strongly disagree with your assumption.
You might never need the services of an air ambulance, however, thousands of people around the world are only alive today because of them.
If you have an ST elevated myocardial infarction, the heart muscle will start to die unless the blocked coronary vessel is opened up in a cardiac catheterization lab. If a patient is an hours drive away, a helicopter is absolutely medically necessary.
I will add that air ambulance services are widely used in the national health service in the UK. Prince William was a pilot for one service for a while. Private equity interests are not a factor in healthcare in the UK healthcare industry and the NHS would not provide the service unless it was medically necessary.
My sister survived a really bad car accident because a medivac helicopter was available to take her straight to the best trauma center in the region. 28 mile flight done in 10-15 minutes instead of an hour navigating 38 miles of windy suburban roads and jammed interstate traffic in an ambulance.
A question which has just occurred to me ….
Are American ATC personnel employed for the good and benefit of the air traffic in their area of responsibility, or, is the air traffic flying for the good and benefit of the ATC operators?
Are you on DOGE, Engel? That sort of stop-first-ask-questions-later logic based on vibes only reminds me of the 19 year olds who are responsible for making nuanced decisions about what our government considers essential services.
Sorry to burst your bubble:
EMS Myth #6: Air medical helicopters save lives and are cost-effective
Engel, grasping at straws, Googles “Is MEDEVAC not cost effective?” and gets a single 21 year old article that narrowly aligns with his argument.
This is what amateur hour looks like.
Engel is completely correct. He never said that all medical flights were unnecessary, he simply said most. Please read carefully before you beat someone over the head with their words. Statistically, most medical flights are unnecessary because in most those situations the patient would be perfectly fine going in an ambulance instead.
3500 hours rotary wing flight hours. Pilot followed ATC instructions and had his aircraft in the safest flight parameters with airspeed in holding rather than hovering. My opinion, controller issued bad instructions. If he wanted the pilot to hover before crossing he should have issued those instructions. This gives pilot opportunity to either comply or respond.