Helicopter Operators Respond to Crisis

Various helicopter organizations are volunteering to help with the international relief effort following Tuesday’s earthquake in Haiti. Helicopter Association Intl (HAI) has been working with the Department of Homeland Security’s Critical Incident Management Group (CIMG), which is coordinating with U.S. State Department recovery efforts. CIMG asked HAI to provide a list of available aircraft, specialized capabilities and contact information. The association is directing operators to its First Responder program at www.rotor.com/fr to supply asset and contact information, or to e-mail haiti@rotor.com with details such as external load, number of passengers, or EMS/fire suppression capabilities. In addition, responding a request from the Community Coalition for Haiti (CCH) in Fairfax, Va., the Association of Air Medical Services (AAMS) is asking members to supply fixed-wing flights to and from Port-au-Prince, as well as medical helicopters or small fixed-wing aircraft for ferry flights from the city to a hospital in Pignon. For details visit www.cchaiti.org or contact Karen Carr, 703-201-7348 or karen@cchaiti.org. AAMS is also reporting that Aero Ambulancia, an EMS provider in the Dominican Republic, has assembled a fleet of four medical-equipped helicopters to assist with the response.
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