Life Flight Landing Zones
Safety is our number one priority. You can learn more about safe landing zone by attending a Ground Crew Training Class.
Landing Zones
Our first priority is safety. Safety for our crew, patients and those we are responding to. Please help us by always keeping safety as a priority when calling upon Life Flight. The following information will help you establish a safe landing zone for Life Flight.
Ground Safety
- Restrict access to the landing zone area and helicopter.
- Do not approach the helicopter unless escorted by flight crew or with permission of pilot.
- Allow the Life Flight team to direct loading and unloading of equipment and patients at all times.
- Secure all loose items such as hats, sheets, mattresses and supplies that could get caught in the rotor wash. Don't chase items blown towards the helicopter.
- Protect your eyes from blowing debris during landing and take off. Wear hearing protection while near a running helicopter.
- Do not open and close doors. The Life Flight crew will operate all doors.
- No smoking around the helicopter
- Life Flight crew will assign one ground contact person to protect the tail rotor. This person will be placed at the front of the aircraft a minimum of 50 feet away between the 3 and 9 o'clock positions in the pilot's view.
Communication with Life Flight
- One pre-hospital care provider or hospital staff member would communicate directly with the Life Flight crew member. Provide radio frequency and call sign of unit coordinating landing zone.
- Provide Life Flight with information that could help them identify the landing zone/accident location (i.e. direction and distance from town, major landmarks or highways). Provide GPS coordinates if available.
- The preferred frequency is Mutual Aid.
- At night, communicate how the landing zone is lit.
- Communicate wind direction and location of potential obstructions/hazards (i.e. wires, trees or poles).
- Identify any hazardous materials (petroleum, chemicals or nuclear) on scene.
- The Life Flight pilot will make a low reconnaissance pass before landing. Be prepared to point out landing and take off hazards and answer the pilot's questions.
View our wallet-sized landing zone safety card (PDF).