Landing Zone Safety

Once an Air Methods helicopter lands, it will go through a cool down phase between 30 seconds and several minutes, during which one of the medical crew will safely exit the aircraft and go directly to the patient or scene commander-in-charge. The second medical crew member will stay at the aircraft for a few moments to assure that the LZ remains secure and also prepare to load the aircraft litter system. Once completed, the second crew member will safely exit the aircraft and join their partner at the patient (this process usually only takes 2-3 minutes). On most occasions, we will shut down our helicopters for safety reason, but if the situation dictates we may remain running. 

After the helicopter is on the ground, never approach the aircraft unless escorted by a flight crewmember. All scene personnel and bystanders are not to approach the helicopter from the tail or go under the rotor disk.  Ambulances and vehicles are to never go under the rotor system.

Air Methods personnel make every effort to maintain the “Golden Hour” concept when responding to a traumatic emergency. On all scene flights, we strive to be loaded and in the process of lifting off within a 10-minute time period. All trauma patients will be transported to the closest Level I trauma center.

When the Air Methods helicopter lands at your facility or designated landing area, it is very helpful to have an awaiting stretcher to assist in loading the helicopter litter, medical equipment and also the patient. Remain outside the turning rotor disk until escorted to the helicopter.  Many times when our helicopter responds to a request for inter-facility transport, the patient usually suffers from a complex medical condition requiring critical care pharmacological support, invasive hemodynamic monitoring or even intra-aortic balloon pump counter pulsation therapy. With this in mind, the Air Methods flight crews strive to keep the time within the hospital to 20 minutes or less. Air Methods follows and supports all COBRA and EMTALA guidelines for inter-facility transport. Our flight team will work with your agency’s physician and nursing staff to assure that the patient is transported to the closest appropriate facility, regardless of the distance.

For more information about LZ requirements and safety information regarding scene operations, visit the Landing Zone Set-Up page.