Air ambulances allowed back at 4 B.C. hospitals following ban

Transport Canada has allowed air ambulances to resume landing at four B.C. hospital helipads, but three others remain off-limits.

Earlier this month, Helijet, the only company that provides air ambulance service outside of the Interior, lost landing privileges at seven hospitals over concerns its aircraft don’t meet regulatory requirements.

But on Friday, officials confirmed Transport Canada has issued an exemption order allowing Helijet helicopters to once again transport patients to Vancouver General Hospital, Nanaimo Regional General Hospital, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Sechelt Hospital.

The company’s aircraft can only land at Vancouver General during the day, however; night flights must still be diverted to Vancouver Harbour or Vancouver International Airport.

B.C. Emergency Health Services said it expects the helipad shared by BC Children’s Hospital and BC Women’s Hospital to be back in service shortly as well, pending “minor site modifications.”

“BCEHS will continue to work with Helijet and Transport Canada to fully resolve the outstanding regulatory issues,” Linda Lupini, executive vide-president of BCEHS said in a statement.

“As part of our agreement, we expect Helijet to take the necessary action to fully comply with Transport Canada’s requirements, including any necessary equipment or fleet enhancements.”

Unfortunately, Transport Canada’s exemption doesn’t apply to two of the province’s busiest hospitals, Surrey Memorial Hospital and Royal Columbian Hospital.

For the time being, patients bound for either hospital will have to continue being dropped off at Pitt Meadows Regional Airport, which health officials estimate is about a 15-minute drive away in an ambulance that has its lights and sirens activated.

BCEHS said the exemption will last until the end of January, giving Helijet time to work with Transport Canada and Sikorsky, the manufacturer of its Sikorsky S76 ambulances, to resolve their issues.

Those issues concern Transport Canada’s performance requirements for aircraft using H1 helipads. The helicopters must be able to maintain visibility and land safely should one of their engines lose power.

Transport Canada has deemed Helijet’s aircraft in non-compliance, though the company, which has been operating air ambulances in B.C. for 18 years, told CTV News earlier this month that it believes the issue is a misunderstanding.