WAAS/LPV and Low-Level Helicopter IFR Routes

Wednesday, March 6 | | 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm
Las Vegas Convention Center, North Hall, Room N255
Flight Operations Track

Improvements in helicopter instrument flight rules (IFR) GPS criteria, avionics, and systems currently allow IFR operations to near-minimums of instrument landing systems ... to a helipad! While transitioning between multiple GPS approaches, helicopters can also utilize low-level IFR routes, extending the IFR season. Lower minimums and low-level routes are different than pilots are used to, however. To operate them safely requires special planning, training, and operations.

Learning Objectives/Benefits

Attendees will learn the difference in airspace requirements between LNAV and WAAS/LPV and the capabilities of WAAS/LPV and low-level routing. We will also discuss differences in approach plates, training requirements, and how to plan and operate a low-level IFR network safely.

Instructors

Craig Lunaas has more than 34 years of experience in the helicopter industry, beginning in the U.S. Army. An air medical pilot with more than 4,000 patient transports, he participated in early GPS criteria testing, resulting in his flight program being awarded the second helicopter GPS approach in the world. A past president of the National EMS Pilot Association, Lunaas has written many articles on helicopter operations and safety. He performs flight validation for LNAV/WAAS/LPV helicopter instrument approaches for Hickock and Associates, Inc. under letter from AFS 460, Flight Standards.

Paul Austin is the lead pilot for Metro Aviation at the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Advanced Response Team in Lebanon, NH. He is also a check airman in the EC-135 series of aircraft for Metro Aviation’s instrument and night-vision goggle program. Austin has been instrumental in helping the DHART program grow to a two-aircraft IFR NVG program with 30 helicopter special-instrument approaches linked by a dedicated low-level IFR en-route network throughout New Hampshire and Vermont.

Frank Erdman, MBA, joined the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Advanced Response Team as its program/business manager in February 2007. He has worked for more than 30 years in emergency medical services as an EMT, a paramedic, and an emergency medical services educator, supervisor, and program manager/director. Frank moved to New Hampshire from Northern California, where he managed a helicopter air medical service for more than 19 years. Frank currently serves as a member of the board of directors for the Association of Critical Care Transport, a national nonprofit grassroots patient advocacy organization committed to ensuring that critically ill and injured patients have access to the safest and highest quality critical care transport system possible.