NEW POLICY:

Helipad Expectations for Visiting HEMS Providers
All visiting flight crews are requested to review this new information in addition to all of the information available on this page.

In an effort to provide the safest environment possible we offer the following policies to users of the Vanderbilt LifeFlight Skyport and Vanderbilt Children's Hospital Helipad. The following documents provide critical information necessary to ensure visiting Air Medical Programs comply with all required policies and procedures.

Air Medical Aircraft in Nashville area and visiting Vanderbilt helipads

Location

             Vanderbilt Helipads - N 36⁰08'33.00" W 86⁰48'03.00" 

Helipad Description

1.  Elevation -750 MSL, 168 AGL

2.  Weight Capacity –

Vanderbilt Adult  -      48 feet /12,000 pounds

Vanderbilt Children’s – 45 feet /12,000 pounds

3.  Primary Approach/Departure: 24/06

4.  Roof top Wind sock and Beacon

Communications (Nashville area and Vanderbilt helipads)

1. Notification of inbound flights shall be made to Vanderbilt Flight Communications via radio or phone 20 minutes prior to arrival.
2. Frequencies and Phone Numbers
   1. Primary Radio: 122.975
   2. Phone: 800-288-8111

Nashville Area Advisories

1.   20 NM and 10 NM  - Make position, altitude, destination and ETA call

2.   5 NM and/or 2 minutes - contact Flight Communications with ETA to       destination.

3. Inform Flight Communications when on final approach to destination.
4. When departing any Nashville hospital helipad, make advisory calls and inform Flight Communication on 122.975.

Insurance

Civil air medical programs will carry Aircraft Liability insurance with a Limit of Liability $20,000,000 for each occurrence. The LifeFlight Program Manager will be provided a copy of the Certificate of Insurance and will be immediately notified in the event of policy change or cancellation

NOTES:

1. Crane operations will be ongoing in the immediate vicinity of the main helipad at Vanderbilt.  Cranes will be secured for all approach/departures to Vanderbilt helipads
2. Hot off-loads (off-loading patients with rotors in motion) will not be performed without the expressed permission of the LifeFlight Communications Center.  The decision to hot off-load will be based on patient acuity, with the safety of ground personnel taking priority.
3. The pilot will remain available on the helipad to relocate the aircraft if it is deemed necessary by the Communications Center.
4. Wind readings from Flight Communications are not always available.
5. Refueling is not available for visiting aircraft.

Please review the following information in it's entirety prior to arriving at Vanderbilt.

• Helipad Expectations for Visiting HEMS Providers (NEW 1/23/2006) 
• Skyport Safety Brief
•VCH Helipad Safety Brief
• Helipad Usage
•Prevailing Winds
• Helipad Operations
• Hot Load/Unload
•Repositioning
• Refueling by Visiting Services
• Visiting Flight Crew Information 

Any program intending to land an aircraft on the LifeFlight skyport should be familiar with the above policies. Please contact our Flight Communications Center at least 10 minutes prior to landing on frequency 122.975. Also, please have your communications personnel contact Flight Comm. at least 30 mins. prior to your aircraft arrival if possible. This will give us plenty of time to clear the helipad if needed.

There is frequently construction in progess on the Vanderbilt campus. When an aircraft calls into the Flight Communications Center with the intention of landing on the skyport, the Flight Coordinator on duty will notify crane operators as needed. This will ensure that cranes are secured prior to an aircraft landing or departing the skyport.

For medical crews there is an elevator key attached to the stretchers that are kept on the skyport. This key must be used to return to the skyport after delivering a patient. This key must also be used to call the elevator with priority status. 

If any of the LifeFlight medical staff is available we will be happy to assist with unloading of patients if needed. If assistance unloading is desired please notify the Communications Center prior to landing.