CHI Aviation, August 29, 2017 - Howell, MI - CHI Aviation is proud to announce it has deployed crew and aircraft to assist with disaster relief efforts in Texas.
The mission is to support area hospitals with delivery of critical supplies, fuel and transit of people from areas impacted by historic flooding in the wake of Hurricane Harvey.
While the full toll of hurricane destruction is still being assessed, helicopter rescue efforts are ramping up amidst continued rain, rising rivers and surging floodwaters across the area.
Patrick Pilolla, CHI Aviation’s director of business development, commented: “Our organization has deep experience is the search-and-rescue arena and operates the most powerful helicopters in the civilian market. Given our experience with such complex missions, including our critical role in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, we anticipated this need and were responded almost immediately after being called for assistance.”
During the preparation briefing CHI was told that 7,000 to 8,000 patients and staff were dependent on our assistance.
August 30, 2017 - CHI is staging a Sikorsky S-61N out of Sugar Land, Texas, about 20 miles southwest of downtown Houston
according to director of business development Patrick Pilolla. CHI is working for Air Methods Corp to supplement that company’s aircraft with a heavy helicopter operating under Federal Aviation Regulations parts 135, 133 and 91.
“Yesterday was critical care patients transfer . . . moving critical care patients from hospitals in distress to fully operational hospitals,” Pilolla said on Aug. 30. He described the operations as similar to military-style casualty evacuations, with each patient being “transported on a litter with their individual life support not supplied by the helicopter, accompanied by medical staff on board.”
The company has also been conducting reconnaissance of landing areas near local hospitals in order to bring them needed supplies. These cargo transfers will be CHI’s next priority after transporting critical patients, Pilolla said.
About CHI Aviation: Incorporated in 1980, CHI Aviation is a leader in global helicopter operations including light, medium, heavy and super heavy lift. The company is an affiliate of Heligroup Holdings Inc. (“Heligroup”), which specializes in transportation of people and cargo by helicopter and fixed wing for applications that include aerial firefighting, NVG, SAR, HVAC placement and aerial construction. With an impeccable safety record of 36 accident-free years, Heligroup’s affiliated companies have received excellent ratings from the US Forest Service, Department of Interior and Department of Defense. Heligroup is a compilation of the industry’s best performers in aviation applications including CHI Aviation Inc., Helimax Aviation Inc, Preferred Avionics LLC., Airborne Suppression Technologies LLC. and Tandem Rotor LLC.
The mission is to support area hospitals with delivery of critical supplies, fuel and transit of people from areas impacted by historic flooding in the wake of Hurricane Harvey.
While the full toll of hurricane destruction is still being assessed, helicopter rescue efforts are ramping up amidst continued rain, rising rivers and surging floodwaters across the area.
Patrick Pilolla, CHI Aviation’s director of business development, commented: “Our organization has deep experience is the search-and-rescue arena and operates the most powerful helicopters in the civilian market. Given our experience with such complex missions, including our critical role in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, we anticipated this need and were responded almost immediately after being called for assistance.”
During the preparation briefing CHI was told that 7,000 to 8,000 patients and staff were dependent on our assistance.
August 30, 2017 - CHI is staging a Sikorsky S-61N out of Sugar Land, Texas, about 20 miles southwest of downtown Houston
according to director of business development Patrick Pilolla. CHI is working for Air Methods Corp to supplement that company’s aircraft with a heavy helicopter operating under Federal Aviation Regulations parts 135, 133 and 91.
“Yesterday was critical care patients transfer . . . moving critical care patients from hospitals in distress to fully operational hospitals,” Pilolla said on Aug. 30. He described the operations as similar to military-style casualty evacuations, with each patient being “transported on a litter with their individual life support not supplied by the helicopter, accompanied by medical staff on board.”
The company has also been conducting reconnaissance of landing areas near local hospitals in order to bring them needed supplies. These cargo transfers will be CHI’s next priority after transporting critical patients, Pilolla said.
About CHI Aviation: Incorporated in 1980, CHI Aviation is a leader in global helicopter operations including light, medium, heavy and super heavy lift. The company is an affiliate of Heligroup Holdings Inc. (“Heligroup”), which specializes in transportation of people and cargo by helicopter and fixed wing for applications that include aerial firefighting, NVG, SAR, HVAC placement and aerial construction. With an impeccable safety record of 36 accident-free years, Heligroup’s affiliated companies have received excellent ratings from the US Forest Service, Department of Interior and Department of Defense. Heligroup is a compilation of the industry’s best performers in aviation applications including CHI Aviation Inc., Helimax Aviation Inc, Preferred Avionics LLC., Airborne Suppression Technologies LLC. and Tandem Rotor LLC.
See also |
S-61 H-3 in
CHI Aviation Hurricane Harvey
