The pilot’s aim is to find the closest and safest landing site to the incident. During the day, an area of 30m diameter is the minimum space in which the helicopter can land (60m x 30m at night). When a landing site is selected, the crew will carry out a recce, looking for any hazards, before committing to landing.

If they are unable to land within the vicinity of the patient, the clinicians will either ask if
assistance from the police is available to help them get to the scene, ‘flag down’ a lift from a passer-by or alternatively, as is often the case, they will walk. In this instance, the pilot will remain with the aircraft and wait for a call to let them know whether the patient is being airlifted to hospital or whether the clinicians are ground assisting the patient by road ambulance.

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