Sewickley Landing Zones - A Turbulent Journey

Originally published July 31, 2014, updated August 8.

Over the last few years I’ve been observing the manner and location at which medical helicopters land in the Sewickley area, specifically when transporting patients from Heritage Valley Hospital Sewickley (HVHS) to specialty care facilities in the Pittsburgh area and elsewhere.

Recent developments may have finally solidified the process by which these landings can occur in a safe and consistent manner. I say “finally” because the way in which that process was arrived at appears to have been fraught with unexpected turns and turbulence - much of it unnecessary.

A Brief Background

Two and a half years ago, I detailed the circumstances and challenges that resulted in multiple landing areas being utilized in what looked to me as a somewhat haphazard fashion. This was due in part to the reconstruction of Quaker Valley Middle School and its athletic field, which had previously served as the “regular” landing zone (LZ).

After this practical confusion about the location of an alternate LZ for the hospital, one was formally established at the Valley Ambulance Authority headquarters in Moon Township. Kevin Flannery, Sewickley Borough Manager, was cited as instrumental in getting the message out to all involved stakeholders - Police, Fire, EMS, Hospital, and the area’s two helicopter services.

While the landing of medical helicopters in the Sewickley area is an infrequent occurrence, they are relatively easy to keep tabs on. The websites of both Cochran Hose Company and Moon Township VFC provide links to monthly incident activity.

By early 2013, the Middle School construction had been completed. However, the transition back to the Middle School LZ seemed to take much longer than anticipated.

In the course of tracking these landings during the first months of 2013, I noticed that the field at the Middle School was still not being used, even though there were no remaining signs of construction activity.

I attempted contact with several stakeholders by e-mail, including Cochran Hose Chief Jeff Neff, inquiring about what procedures were in place regarding landings at the Middle School. Chief Neff replied in an e-mail on April 13, 2013:

We are in discussions at the present time to reopen all of our landing zones on this side of the river.

Out of Sight, Out of Mind?

There was little or no landing activity in the months that followed. However, in September 2013 I noticed that the Valley Ambulance LZ was surrounded by construction supplies and equipment being staged for work on University Boulevard.

I again made inquiries to those same stakeholders about the status of the landing zones on the Sewickley side of the river. Chief Neff replied with the following:

There are four landing zone sites available in our area. In order they are:

The middle school football field

The Osborne Elementary field

The YMCA field

The senior high school field

Most times the Quaker Valley Ambulance Authority chooses the site and contacts the necessary helicopter. We are then notified to set up the landing zone at the chosen site.

If Quaker Valley Ambulance Authority is in charge of the transport, especially if it is coming out of the Heritage Valley Sewickley Hospital, they determine the landing zone.

J.R. Henry, Executive Director of Valley Ambulance Authority, replied:

...the Hospital decides which landing zone to use and makes all pre-flight communications directly with the flight services. When notified by that HVHS - Sewickley, has requested a helicopter, we will respond to the designated landing zone and coordinate the patient and / or crew transfer.

To our knowledge, VAA Headquarters is still the primary landing zone as construction is ongoing at the Quaker Valley Middle School. This landing zone remains open 24/7 in spite of the construction company which is staging equipment in our lot.

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