Palm Beach County Fire Rescue SOG 320-02 Landing Zones PDF

Palm Beach County Fire Rescue Standard Operating Guideline SOG 320-02 Landing Zones Issue Date: 05/21/2018...

Palm Beach County Fire Rescue Standard Operating Guideline SOG 320-02 Landing Zones Issue Date: 05/21/2018 Effective Date: 06/21/2018 PURPOSE: To provide guidelines for establishing a landing zone (LZ) for Trauma Hawk or other helicopters. AUTHORITY:  Fire Rescue Administrator SCOPE: This standard guideline shall apply to all Emergency Operations personnel. PROCEDURE: 1. General Information: a. Apparatus positioning i. At a minimum, a three-person Engine, Rescue Pumper, or Aerial company is required to establish a field Landing Zone (LZ). ii. The LZ suppression apparatus should be positioned close enough to the LZ to allow for the rapid deployment of a 1¾" pre-connected hose line. iii. Other Fire Rescue vehicles should be positioned outside the designated LZ and under power lines that cross the roadway. b. Landing Zone location A clear, flat, and firm area with dimensions of at least 120' by 120' is essential to establish a safe LZ. i. If the Pilot identifies a better or safer location from the air they shall communicate it to the ground crew. ii. The Pilot makes the final decision whether or not to use the LZ site selected by the ground crew. iii. Empty fields or parking lots should be selected over open roadways with power poles. iv. When landing an aircraft on a divided highway, traffic should be stopped in both directions if any of the following: 1. In conflict with aircraft operations. 2. At the pilot’s discretion. 3. At the Incident Commanders discretion. v. If possible, a LZ should be located to allow the aircraft to approach into the wind without flying directly over the emergency scene. SOG 320-02 Landing Zones Page 1 of 3  c. Approaching the helicopter i. No person should approach the aircraft without being accompanied or directed by a member of the flight crew. ii. The flight crew shall meet the ground crew for an exchange of patient information, preferably in the back of a Rescue, and then escort the ground crew to the aircraft for patient loading. iii. Ground crews approaching an aircraft should be protected by a minimum of: 1. A helmet 2. Eye protection 3. Hearing protection d. Abort i. Abort indicates that the LZ is no longer safe. ii. It is the responsibility of all personnel to identify hazards and call for an “Abort” if the ground units or helicopter are in danger. iii. Anytime the ground or flight crew are unsure, the landing should be aborted. iv. When calling for an abort, personnel should announce “Abort, Abort, Abort” on the TAC channel. v. A wave-off is out-stretched arms waved back and forth over the head. vi. A wave-off indicates that the LZ is no longer safe and that the final approach should be aborted. e. Communication i. Refer to SOG 210-01 Communications for Priority Traffic procedures. ii. The marshaller shall maintain direct radio communications with the flight crew to ensure the LZ is clear. iii. The ground crew designation shall be "Landing Zone" on the air. iv. The LZ radio communications may remain on the incident TAC channel, this decision is up to Incident Commander or Pilot. v. If two (2) helicopters are responding to a single Landing Zones, a separate TAC channel shall be dedicated to the LZ procedures. vi. If two (2) Landing Zones are occurring at different locations, each LZ shall be on different TAC channels (each LZ may remain on the same TAC channel as the incident so long as the incidents are on different TAC channels). 2. Daytime Landing Procedures a. The marshaller and tail rotor guards shall be equipped with: i. Full bunker gear ii. Eye protection iii. Ear protection b. Final approach is when the aircraft is making the final leg and descent to the LZ. c. Prior to final approach: i. The marshaller should: 1. Initially be positioned to mark the recommended point of helicopter landing within the LZ (with the prevailing wind at their back, if possible). 2. Maintain direct radio contact with the aircraft. SOG 320-02 Landing Zones Page 2 of 3  3. Identify themselves as the marshaller by holding both hands straight up over their head until recognized by the aircraft by radio communications. ii. The tail rotor guards should stand on either side of the marshaller. d. On final approach: i. The marshaller should point both arms at the recommended touchdown location of helicopter landing when the aircraft begins final approach. ii. The marshaller and tail rotor guards shall move out and away to a safe location, preferably in close proximity to another obstacle, while still maintaining visual contact with the aircraft. e. After landing i. No ground crew shall approach the aircraft until the flight crew has exited the aircraft. ii. When the Landing Zone is in a fenced area, the ground crew shall position at access points (i.e., gates, openings, etc…). iii. When the Landing Zone is NOT in a fenced area the ground crew should secure the area around the aircraft, once the rotor blades have come to a complete stop, by positioning themselves approximately thirty (30) feet around it. iv. Ground crews shall: 1. NOT approach the aircraft until the flight crew has exited the aircraft. 2. Remain in position until the aircraft is ready to depart and the rotor blades start to turn. 3. Move out and away from the aircraft as the rotor blades begin to turn. f. Every attempt shall be made to maintain the LZ for a minimum of two (2) minutes after departure. 3. Nighttime Landings Procedures a. The below are additional considerations to the daytime procedures. b. Nighttime landings require that the LZ be well-lit or clearly marked with light sticks or box flashlights. c. Flares are not to be used to mark a LZ. d. Lights should be positioned not to interfere with flight crew vision. e. Once the Pilot has visually located the incident scene or LZ, all non-essential emergency lights should be turned off. Supersession History 1. SOG #2505, issued 04/01/2009 2. SOG 320-02, clerical 05/01/2018 3. SOG 320-02, issued 05/21/2018 SOG 320-02 Landing Zones Page 3 of 3