Youngstown to receive Mercy Flight landing pad

by Susan Mikula Campbell
Lewiston Porter Sentinel, April 21, 2007

Construction is expected to get under way Sunday at Youngstown’s Veterans Park on a helicopter landing pad for Mercy Flight.

Materials and labor for the effort to provide a safer landing spot for the emergency service are being 100 percent donated by local businesses, according to Youngstown Volunteer Fire Chief Eric Wieland.

The new landing pad is expected to be complete in a week to 10 days, depending on the weather, Wieland said. An afternoon-long dedication celebration is scheduled for May 20.

The new landing pad will give Mercy Flight improved access to trauma victims needing emergency transport to hospitals, according to Gregory Gill, Mercy Flight general manager.

“One of the most dangerous parts of our mission is takeoff and landing in an unfamiliar area. This eliminates that problem,” he said.

With a pre-set landing area that is level, firm and plowed in bad weather, pilots won’t have to circle around finding coordinates and searching out obstacle hazards before landing, making response quicker, he said. The fire department ambulance will take the victim directly to the pad.

“We’ll be able to get in and out a lot safer and a lot quicker.” Gill said. “It’s a great asset, another tool for responding to people in need.”

Wieland said the new landing pad will be a 45-foot diameter circle with a walkway leading to it that is 8 feet wide and 60 feet long. The pad will be located in the southwest corner of Veterans Park, which is across from the firehall. It will have ground lights for night landings.

The Village Board recently gave the firehall permission to build the landing pad on the park property. Most other area fire departments have large parking lots or areas where Mercy Flight can safely land on a firm surface. Space at Youngstown’s firehall is limited, and Veterans Park, although large, can have wet and marshy ground at certain times of the year.

“This will help us out 365 days a year now, Wieland said.

At the May 20 dedication celebration, activities will run from about 1 to 4 p.m., with the actual dedication taking place at 2 p.m.

Mercy Flight plans to bring in its newly acquired BK-117 helicopter to show off. The helicopter has more room in the back for caring for patients and has greater lifting capability. Gill said.

The fire department is making arrangements to bring in Sparky the fire dog and the Coast Guard and Sheriff’s Department rescue boats for display. Various demonstrations also are planned until 4 p.m.

In 2006, Mercy Flight was called to Niagara County 220 times and transported about 130 people, Gill said.

“If it (the landing pad) helps one person, I think it will be well worth it,” he said.

Those contributing to the Mercy Flight landing pad in Youngstown include:

Lafarge North America in Niagara Falls – stone and concrete.

Anderson Electric Supply of Niagara Falls – all electrical supplies.

Dave Webb Concrete of Youngstown – concrete forms and finishing of the concrete.

Robert MacVie of Youngstown – digging.

Acome Construction of Youngstown – trenching for conduit.

Town of Porter and Village of Youngstown highway departments – hauling stone.