Helijet to introduce night vision for air medical flights in 2018

HeliJet, the provider of air transportation for emergency medical services on the North Coast is about to expand on its technical abilities in the air, with plans to introduce night vision to their aircraft early in 2018.

Operating under a contract with the BC Ambulance Service, the air service provides air medical services from Prince Rupert to Vancouver through its local base at Seal Cove, transit to and from the North Coast is by way of the Sikorsky S-76C+ medical helicopter  aircraft which are on call on a seven day a week, 24 hour basis.

Brendan McCormick, HeliJet's Director of Flight Operations outlined how the new technology will improve service to those that rely on the air ambulance service that the company provides.

“This equipment will significantly enhance our current air ambulance service delivery, allowing us to provide services where we couldn't before and dramatically increasing safety where we have".

The Night Vision Imaging System will be introduced and installed in all three dedicated air ambulances that HeliJet operates in British Columbia. The cost of the installation, which will be borne by HeliJet and is estimated at 1.6 million dollars.

Once in place the NVIS technology will enhance cockpit flight operations, providing better situational awareness for pilots as they travel across British Columbia's challenging terrain.

The system makes use of image intensifier tubes that produce an enhanced image of a scene in light conditions too low for the normal human eye to identify clearly during navigation and pilotage.

The new system is to be installed through a partnership with BC Based VIH Aerospace along with Rebtech Technologies and Night Flight Concepts. HeliJet pilots will begin their training this fall with plans to have them fully ground and flight trained in the use of the technology by early 2018.

Some background on the roll out of the new night vision technology can be reviewed here.

The Air Ambulance service out of Seal Cove is primarily used for transportation of patients within a 100 mile radius of Prince Rupert.

You can learn more about the Air Ambulance service provided by HeliJet here.

More notes related to medical services in Prince Rupert can be reviewed here, while a wider overview of health care in the Northwest can be found here.