Helicopter - Cockpit

SHA Inside
36
Swiss Helicopter
Association
www.sha-swiss.ch
Internationale Kommission für Alpines
Rettungswesen IKAR
Commission Internationale de Secours Alpin CISA
International Commission for Alpine Rescue ICAR
The aim of ICAR is to provide help for those who
are in distress in the mountains or in terrain that is
diffi cult to access.
The ICAR platform was founded in 1948. Within the
ICAR relationship net there are always solutions. It
is an unwritten law and moral responsibility among
mountain rescuers that knowledge and skills and
everything that helps other mountain rescuers are made
available within an adequate amount of time.
ICAR is the worldwide platform for mountain rescue knowhow:
• There are answers to questions.
• There are solutions to problems.
• New methods are demonstrated.
• New equipment and techniques become available.
Mistakes made once are not repeated.
• The impossible becomes possible.
About 300 specialists (rescue specialists in mountainous environment,
rock, snow, ice, emergency physicians, and helicopter
crews) from about 57 mountain rescue organizations
from over 31 countries meet at the annual ICAR congress. The
annual ICAR congress contributes to exchange the experiences
of the past year. Through this process, all reforms and
improvements are disseminated into daily rescue operations
around the world. In 2009, from September 23 to 26 we convened
in Zermatt, Switzerland on invitation from the OCVS-
KWRO (Organisation Cantonale Valaisanne des Secours).
ICAR Air Rescue Commission
There is a huge variety with rescue operations including helicopters
in use (single engine vs. multi engine), topography,
altitude (sea level to 8848 m) as well as signifi cant differences
between our members in terms of crew composition and operational
systems (military crews, government agencies, police
forces, commercial operators, foundations, etc.). These can be
coordinated by either public or private alarm or dispatch centers.
All these factors present a formidable challenge.
Each annual meeting gives us the opportunity to share different
visions, different ways of operating, but also to learn
from past mistakes. In some years, prior to the annual con-
11/2009
gress, a practical day is organized where we share techniques,
we test new helicopters, we demonstrate or experiment with
new rescue equipment.
Zermatt 2009
On the September 22, the ICAR Avalanche and Terrestrial
commissions had their practical day on the Theodul and Plateau
Rosa glacier, while the Medcom had a joint session with
a Hypothermia congress in Zermatt and the Air Rescue commission
was at the Air-Zermatt heliport to test fl y an EC145
especially provided for us by Eurocopter.
All pilots had the opportunity to fl y the EC145 according to
their experience (change certifi cation).
The major subjects discussed this year within the Air Rescue
were : incident – accident, new hoist technology, preliminary
results of helicopter accident analysis done by EHEST, presentation
of the EC175 and Alert Vision by Eurocopter, risk assessment
: the GO decision, an update of the future regulation on
harnesses by the EASA and the impact on the operators and
rescuers and fi nally a total review of all ICAR ARC recommendations.
We also had a joint session with the Medical commission
about the «Recommended Standards for Helicopter Emergency
Medical Services (HEMS) in Mountain Rescue». The
results of the working group will be published by the Medcom.
Defi ning standards for others is what I call the biggest challenge
that we face today. It is more and more diffi cult for the
crews to do their job as they are constantly asked to meet new
standards. Some of these requirements do not take into consideration
the point of view of professionals but are strictly
based on the ideas of regulators.
A rescue crew is composed of professionals who know what
they can do and where their limits are. Saving lives is a risky
business but we are aware of the hazards and we are trained
to manage the risk. Taking unnecessary risks is not part of
our standard.
ICAR as the mountain rescue representative worldwide, has
a role to play and will face the challenge.
On Friday, September 24, the OCVS-KWRO rescue team had
organised the complete evacuation of the cabin car running
between Sunegga and Blauherd. The lift was fi lled with ICAR
rescuers and the KWRO-OCVS pilots and mountain rescuer
then did a part of their annual training. Two SA315B (Air-Glaciers
and Air-Zermatt) practiced a very well prepared exercice
and in less than an hour the job was done with not a single incident
to deplore. Precision, professionalism, sling techniques,
radio communication, mountain rescue techniques were shown
by all participants and the result was a very useful exercise.
Next ICAR meeting will be held in Slovakia from October 06
to October 09, 2010.
For more information, go to www.ikar-cisa.org
Patrick Fauchère
President of the ICAR Flight Rescue Commission
Foto: P. Fauchère