HomeMy WebLinkAboutResponses regarding flights
1. What is the total number of anticipated flights per month/year/etc?
In 2007 we had 328 total flights (27 per month average) to the Conseco helipad.
In the first six months of 2008 we have had 140 total flights (23 per month
average) with 50 (8 per month average) of these being between the hours of 8:00
pm and 8:00 AM.
2. Have a final flight path and alternate flight path been determined? Do the paths
take the helicopter over any residences, and if so, at what altitude?
Yes. St. Vincent Hospital contracts with PHI Air Medical for the emergency
helicopter transport of patients to and from its various Indiana hospitals including
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its hospital at 86 Street in Indianapolis. PHI toured the proposed site and also
performed a couple test landings and takeoffs on July 21, 2008 in close proximity
to the proposed helipad site.
The takeoff and landing of helicopters for the Proposed Pad will be along and
roughly parallel to U.S. 31. This route is preferred due to the relative lack of
obstructions (e.g., light poles, utility lines and poles and buildings). This route is
also preferred because prevailing winds in the area are southwesterly and it is
typical to take off and land by positioning the aircraft into the wind. Even if winds
are from the west or east, the pilot has the ability to take off or land in a position
that is 90 degrees on either side of the current wind direction. Accordingly, the
Reserve I and II neighborhood residential area that is located to the west of the
Proposed Pad is an area that can and will be avoided due to the existence of the
numerous residential structures and St. Vincent Hospital's expressed desire that
pilots respect this as a no fly zone. St. Vincent and PHI Air Medical is committing
to a no-fly zone over the Reserve I and II neighborhoods
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3. What is the typical decibel level in proximity to a helipad?
St. Vincent retained the services of David Braslau Associates (Consultants in
Acoustics based in Minneapolis). Three sound level meters were placed adjacent
to and in the Reserve Subdivision to the west of the Proposed Pad over a six-day
period. The objectives of the testing was to establish ambient sound levels in the
community and to record test landing and takeoffs of a helicopter in the center
parking lot approximately 120 feet west of a Proposed Pad. The sound level
meters were used to monitor overall sound levels values every minute and
statistical sound levels during each 5-minute interval. The meters were also set
up to capture and analyze events that registered more than 75 dBA.
Meter #1 was set up directly west of the proposed helipad and just east of the
residential area wall. Meter #2 was set up approximately 200 ft north of Meter
#1. Meter #3 was set up at a residence within the residential area. Because
Meter #2 malfunctioned, the most useful data evaluated here are taken from
Meter #1 and Meter #3.
Sound levels over the six-day period at Meter #1 ranged from a minimum of
41dBA during early morning hours to a maximum of 109 dBA during a
thunderstorm, also during early morning hours.
Sound levels over the six-day period at Meter #3 ranged from a minimum of 50
dBA due to air conditioning equipment to a maximum of 103 dBA during the
thunderstorm noted above
During the helicopter demonstration landing on 21 July, a maximum level of 85
dBA was observed at Meter #1 and 76 dBA at Meter #3. Duration of sound over
70 dBA was 55 seconds at Meter #1 and only 30 seconds at Meter #3. The lower
level and shorter duration at Meter #3 is due primarily to shielding by the brick
wall around the residential area.
During the helicopter demonstration departure on 21 July, a maximum level of 83
dBA was observed at Meter #1 and 75 dBA at Meter #3. Duration of sound over
70 dBA was about 30 seconds at both meters, but the level was consistently 6 to
8 dBA higher at Meter #1 which was not shielded by the brick wall.
Some other sources generating a 75 dBA sound level are a TV at normal volume
at 10 feet, a lawnmower at 100 feet, and city traffic at 100 feet.
The helicopter demonstration utilized a landing/take off area that was
approximately 120' closer to the neighborhood than the location of the proposed
pad. Therefore the dBA level from the test will decrease 2 dBA and the duration
of the sound over 70 dBA will decrease as well.
4. Where will the patients typically be coming from?
We serve the entire state of Indiana with the primary transfer coming form central
Indiana counties. I have attached a State Map highlighting the helicopter
transfers by county highlighted.
5. How much time will placing the helipad at the Heart Hospital save, as opposed to
driving the patient down from the Conseco helipad?
It can save an average of 20 minutes. Utilization of off-site helipads involves the
extra step of patient-to-ambulance transport which, in addition to wasting time,
involves additional trauma to the patient.
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6. Is there any additional equipment that would need to be installed, ie for radio
communications, etc?
No. The equipment is already inside the hospital facility.
7. Will the overall helipad be landscaped, inasmuch as the FAA permits
landscaping around it?
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Yes, per the landscape plan submitted on August 8 for the August 19 Plan
Commission we show the placement of 79 dense yews around the safety zone
area of the pad and 65 Karl Foerster feather reed grass around the Dense Yews.
See filed landscape plan for the additional landscaping that will be placed.
8. What type of lighting is anticipated for the helipad, and would it impact adjacent
residences at all?
The proposed lighting of the heliport consists of sixteen green perimeter lights.
These lights are low level lights that surround the helipad to delineate the landing
zone for the helicopter pilot. The perimeter lights are ground mounted and will
extend only 8” above grade. The light source for the perimeter lights is a 9 watt
LED and the lumen output is 300. The output of a standard 25 watt incandescent
lamp is 378 lumens. The green perimeter lights are low intensity at only 300
lumens.
The red obstruction lights have an even lower intensity as a result of the red lens.
The obstruction lights have the same 9 watt LED lamp, but the lumen output is
only 180 lumens which are half the lumen output of a 25 watt standard
incandescent lamp. There are a total of five obstruction lights with three to be
mounted on three existing poles, one on the low roof of the Heart Center and one
on the high roof of the Heart Center.
The illuminated windsock lighting also consists of LED lamps and has a total of
33 watts with a lumen output of 1320 lumens. 1320 lumens can be compared to
a single 75 watt incandescent lamp whose lumen output is 1500. The illuminated
windsock will also have a single red obstruction light and will be mounted on the
low roof of the Heart Center.
Given these lumen output levels, the lighting that is being added for the helipad
should be considered very low intensity and the minimal levels should not be
considered intrusive to the surrounding area. In addition, the helipad lighting will
be controlled by the pilot and only be on during the approach, landing and take-
off of the helicopter.
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