Speedy New Copter Improves Efficiency

So the 5-year-olds were ecstatic when UNC Health Care revealed its newly refurbished lifesaving helicopter, Tar Heel One, to the public Friday.

With children crawling underneath the aircraft and running to pilots for photographs, parents had to literally tear their children away from the chopper.

"I like all these controls," said Tristan as he gleefully sat in the cockpit and mimicked the pilot's gestures.

"We noticed it about two weeks ago," said Chris Jackson, Adam's mother. "I thought my son would really enjoy it."

Balloons and ribbon adorned the landing pad at UNC Air and Ground Transportation, creating a party atmosphere.

The bright blue and white painted stripes and Tar Heel logos captured the attention of most, even though the majority of the children seemed to be more impressed with the immense view from the landing station.

Perhaps most excited about the event, however, were UNC Health Care officials, whose new helicopter offers high-tech mobile care to patients. "Basically anything you need to take care of a patient is here," said Leslie Nehrig, a registered nurse for UNC Air Care.

The helicopter, leased from Pittsburgh-based Corporate Jets Inc., takes the place of an aircraft that was assembled in the 1980s but utilized technology from the 1970s.

Flight paramedic Jerry Barlow said Tar Heel One has been in service for about three weeks, but it was not officially introduced until Friday so technological glitches could be fixed.

The aircraft's greatest improvements involved extensive renovation, said pilot Bob Heuber.

"The whole thing is newer composite materials," he said. "It's like going from an old pickup truck to a Porsche."

Heuber said the fiberglass and alloy body make the aircraft considerably lighter, and the tail rudder takes less power to operate, enhancing its speed by about 10 percent.

"It's going to decrease the amount of time to get the patient here," he said.

Heuber said the transmission absorbs most vibrations and provides a much smoother ride for the paramedics and patient.

He said Tar Heel One's construction enables it to fly more than 400 nautical miles, exceeding its original range of 250.

The helicopter's improvements have not only made it faster, but more environmentally sound, Heuber said. "We use about 20 percent less fuel."

Because all the controls are now computerized, start up and shut down times are considerably decreased. Heuber said this is crucial because every minute counts when transporting patients.

Tar Heel One's interior is a fully functioning response center, with pacemakers, ventilators, chest tubes and other medical equipment.

Barlow said anything that can be performed in an emergency room can be performed in the helicopter. "The equipment itself is not new --we just made it fit into the aircraft."

Barlow said the flight team is trained in the most advanced procedures, which makes for a smoother transition from the aircraft to the operating room.

While visitors were impressed with the aircraft's numerous advancements, most were in awe of its aesthetics.

"I like the design of it," said Chris Jackson.

"It's incredible. It's smaller than I thought it was going to be."

Like UNC Hospitals officials, though, she was most excited about the aircraft's potential for saving lives.

"I'm sure this makes a huge difference for people who are far out."

The University Editor can be reached at udesk@unc.edu.