HEMS
“There are a lot of behind the scenes jobs that need to be done when not doing inspections,” explains Heidel. Whether it’s fixing a part, building special tools, touching up some paint or replacing a decal, there’s always something important to do.” 3:30 p.m. A call has come in and the STARS helicopter is out flying a mission. This is an opportune time for Heidel to sort some hardware, saying that doing so will increase the effectiveness of the engineering team. “We can’t be wasting time looking through washers or bolts to find a specific one,” he says. “Having things catalogued and organized allows us to do our job more efficiently.” 4 p.m. Heidel is flight following on a special computer
safely. If a call comes in, the helicopter will be good to go. “You have to be constantly managing time and changes,”
says Heidel. “The pilots and crew are focused on the mission and it’s our job to make sure a helicopter is airworthy. The en- gineers are required to make some really important decisions on whether a particular aircraft can fly or not.” 11:30 a.m. After completing the maintenance tasks, Heidel joins the pilots in the helicopter for a test run to check opera- tions and make sure the job was done right. 1:30 p.m. A special component on the helicopter is re-
moved and replaced with a functional unit. Heidel is now tasked with fixing the older part so that it can be used again in the future.
program; he is able to track the helicopter’s location, airspeed and direction. By doing so, he and the engineering team can know exactly when the aircraft will be back and be prepared to work when it arrives. 5 p.m. A day of work is now complete for Heidel. He heads home to spend some time with his family, feeling good about what he accomplished throughout the day. “I leave with the gratification of knowing I played an important role in keeping STARS flying and saving lives today,” says Heidel. There you have it, a good look at one of Canada’s HEMS organizations. STARS is dedicated to providing a safe, highly specialized emergency medical transport system to fight trauma and get patients where they have to be within that golden hour.
Not a good place to be stuck without a spare Fuel Boost Pump.
Rapco offers new FAA-PMA approved fuel pumps without a core charge. Shouldn’t you carry a spare?
Dennis Cleaves
RA1C27-10 RA2C27-1 RA2C27-3
Bell 205A, 205A-1, 212,206B, 206L, 206L-1, 206L3, 206L4, 407, 412, 412EP, 412CF,427 (see supplement for installation eligibility)
1-800-527-2726 30
HelicopterMaintenanceMagazine.com October | November 2013
Fuel Pumps Vacuum pumps Filters & Gaskets Brake Components De-Ice Components
...All FAA-PMA approved
Air Evac Lifeteam The Air Evac Lifeteam is supported by an expanding community of more than one million members who pay an annu- al fee and are entitled to be transported free of charge for life- or limb-threaten- ing medical emergencies. Membership support enables the company to provide its services in rural areas that otherwise might not be capable of supporting an air ambulance service. We talked with Dennis Cleaves, senior
director of maintenance for the Air Evac Lifeteam.
Helicopter Maintenance –
How did the Air Evac Lifeteam come into being?
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