Time: 9:15am
Location: Life Flight Wellington
Topic: Air navigation technology and the Life Flight Trust
Experts: John Low - Pilot for the Life Flight Trust
Speaking Schools: St Albans School, Year 5-6 and Ohaeawai School, Year 6
Questions from St Alban's School
1. Can you tell us about a rescue you have done and the technology you used? Is it stressful or exciting? What is the hardest life flight mission you have done? Dan and Sam and Isaac
John says they use GPS, especially to remote places. Hardest one was to West Coast and it was both exciting and stressful but their training means they can handle most situations.
2. Is it easier to use V.F.R. or I.F.R.? When do you use each? Do you use autopilot in planes and helicopters?
John says they use both VFR and IFR in most places. IFR helps them to get where they are going. They use VFR for the landing. They use auto-pilot a lot but fly manually a lot too especially when the weather is rough. Auto-pilot enables them to do planning if needed. Helicopters tend not to have auto-pilot.
3. Are there special places to land your planes? If so, how do you find them? Do you have special tools to help you?
John says the AirFlight plane mainly lands at official airports. Airports have beacons to help you. Overseas John has landed on paddocks and even on roads.
4. How do you know if there has been an accident that you need to go to? Max
Hospital finds out first and phone the LifeFlight Trust Office who notify the plane pilot. For teh helicopter for someone lost in the bush it is police and search and rescue. At sea, it is different again to notify the helicopter.
5. How do you navigate a plane in bad weather, like a snow storm or in big winds? Is it hard to rescue or help people then? Jack
John says they use IFR in bad weather - they use GPS, navigational aids and the artifical horizon. Plane can get ice on it but can de-ice by expanding rubber with air which cracks the ice and sheds it.
Questions from Ohaeawai School
1. Max/Arlo - Is there new technology coming out all the time to help you, such as drones? If so how are they used?
John says it seems every 6 months there is something new coming out. For air ambulance drones do not have much use but for search and rescue there is rapid development with drones and they have a lot of potential.
2. Ty - When aircraft are on very long flights, how do you calculate the time, amount of fuel and weight you can carry? Grace
John says they do it for every flight and check it during the flight too. The cockpit instrument tells them how much fuel they have. They look at it all the time. It's all maths! Very important if the flight needs to divert to another airport.
3. Jessica - What special training is required to be in the Life Flight Trust?
John says he has special training more than just learning to be a pilot. They are trained to fly considering teh patient. They also have to learn to load the patient and work with doctors, nurses and para-medics.
4. Tony - Are GPS systems in NZ used at all airports in NZ? We are thinking of the smaller airports such as Kerikeri and Kaitaia. Kelly
Most NZ airports have a GPS approach system that the plane GPS can hook into to help planes land.
5. Royston - Is the Life Flight Trust responsible for coordinating all rescue teams together in case of an emergency requiring land, sea and air support?
John says it is a team effort. Rescue Coordination Centre in Wellington. Free Ambulance. Hopsital. Police, Fire Service. Depends on stuation as to which of these organisations are involved.
Informal Questions (from Chat pod)
St Albans School: Do you have aqua planes that can land on water to rescue people?
They do exist overseas and sea planes were used before helicopters.
SHSRoom29: Is there a maximum wind speed that the halicopters can operate in?
They can operate in most winds around Wellington.
SHS Room 14: How high can you fly the helicopter at?
10,000 feet
4JamesBoys: Have you been in a situation where you have not been able to rescue the person?
Sometimes delays because of bad weather.
SHSRoom19: By how much does rescuing others also place your own life at risk?
Have to weigh up risk so the crew are not endangering themselves when rescuing others.
Jill: Room 31 would like to know what is the worst accident you have had to attend?
The medical staff see the worst - some car accidents.
Jill: Room 31 would like to know how much experience you need to become a life flight pilot.
Most 7-8 years but one pilot has 50 years experience!
SHS Room 14: How many crew members on each flight?
2 pilots and 1 more from LifeFlight and medical is usually at least a doctor and a nurse.
SHSRoom29: Have you ever had to use the services yourself when your off duty? How did you find it?
John knows of a kayaker and horse rider who worked there who needed rescuing off-duty.
Jill: Room 31 would like to know how fast can a helicopter fly when travelling to and from an emergency?
Helicopter can go 200Kph which is slower than the plane (400kph) but can go up and over hills in a straight line so can be quicker.
St Albans School: Do you ever carry the bomb squad? What happens?
St Albans School: Do you carry robots?
They have carried a bomb disposal robot. And a search and rescue dog which can be lowered from the helicopter to the ground.
4JamesBoys: What's the average number of people that you have to rescue in a month?
3-4 jobs a day so about 100 a month.
SHSRoom29: How do you do maintanence on the aircraft, but also be ready to respond instantly?
Maintenance is happening all the time and is communicated between engineers and pilot. Pilots do a visual inspection before every flight.
St Albans School: how much money would you make a year from donations?
Need 5 million $ a year to keep going. Piloting is a good job, well paid.
SHSRoom19: How many helicopters and planes does Life Flight have?
Have a twin-engined helicopter. Have one plane and anotehr one coming.
SHSRoom19: Which do you use more for rescues - planes or helicopters?
Use planes more - can fly further, cheaper. More versatile. Helicopters good for taking people staright to hospital
