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MVHS Downtown Concept vs. Helipad

Our group is investigating the purported Helipad For The Downtown Utica Hospital Concept. The first rendering offered a Roof-top Landing Site. We then heard there would not be a heliport, however advocates then said there would be one. Now, the most recent rendering shows and talks about a Ground Level "Lift pad".

February 11, 2022 - Oneida County Executive Picente now calling for a "helicopter pad..."

May 17, 2021 - Removed from the Downtown Utica Hospital Site Plan, the helipad reappeared on March 19th, #TheWynnHospital...

September 20, 2019 - First it was a rooftop helipad, then it was at street level, but read Downtown Utica Hospital Site Plan Approved - Approved Without A Helipad!

July 26, 2019 - A non-walkable downtown takes shape...

Simple solution, place this #MVHSDOWNTOWN Concept at St. Luke's... in Utica's current Oneida County Medical District.

Footnotes from the MVHS March 21, 2019 FEIS: (5) In contrast to a heliport, a helipad (or helistop) is a location designated for helicopters to land and take off without facilities for refueling or repair. A hospital helipad is limited to serving helicopters engaged in air ambulance, or other hospital related functions.

(6) Helipad operations at FSLH and SEMC will cease upon the transfer of operations to the IHC.

(7) MVHS does not own or operate medevac helicopters, which is provided by a third-party specialty service. Operations are not scheduled events, but episodic. MVHS’s primary use of medevac helicopters is for transfer out of patients to larger tertiary care/specialty hospitals. The example types of transport may be neonates, trauma, and other higher level of care services. Annual cumulative helicopter landings at St. Luke’s and SEMC have ranged from 15 to 37 between 2014 and 2017 (MVHS 2018); according to MVHS, approximately 50% of the existing medevac flights are patients leaving the hospital for another facility. No significant increase or decrease in landings at the downtown IHC are anticipated.

December 8, 2017 - We all know helicopters are well-suited to vertical takeoffs and landings, however is placing a "helipad" into Downtown Utica that straight forward? This Monday at a East Utica meeting, Common Councilwoman Pezzolanella-McNiel Suggested It Was (fast forward to minute 56:30, then again 57:10). However, we were not so sure and it turns out, she's not that well informed.

Turns out that our Common Councilwoman needs to read-up on helicopter flight dynamics, MVHS's Mr Scholefield too!

"They [helicopters] won't come in at altitude and then descend vertically until touch down. The major reason is that rapid vertical descent has the danger that the rotor could end up in its own downwash and lose most of its lift. You don't want that. So what they will do is come in horizontally while descending until over the landing site only a few dozen feet from the ground." [Ref.]

What does the F.F.A. require? We think residents, taxpayers and healthcare-seekers should know all the facts, costs, and the truth. What do nurses, doctors, and city officials know about helipads? Seems not enough!

November 7, 2017 - We want to know about the proposal for a downtown helipad...

An "Emergency Air Lift", does that suggest only taking patients up-and-away? Let's see how this plays out! What are the specifics of a "lift pad" vs. "helipad" vs. "air lift" vs. "heliport"? So many nagging details and questions! Here are some F.A.A. requirements: Heliport Design: Advisory Circular (PDF, 196 pages). They describe heliport development plans and feasibility studies, in addition to...

"Assessment items. An environmental assessment addresses noise, historic and cultural resources, wildlife, energy conservation, land usage, air quality, water quality, pollution prevention, light emissions and other visual effects, electromagnetic fields, other public health and safety issues, the “no action” alternative and a reasonable range of feasible alternatives, including mitigation not integrated into the alternative initially. It also describes the action taken to ensure public involvement in the planning process. An opportunity for a public hearing may be required for the federally funded development of, or significant improvement to, an existing heliport."

So where is MVHS on this aspect of their project?

Utica Helipads

July 12, 2017 - Did you know, St. Luke's has an F.A.A. Certified Heliport, in addition to many other hospital access points...

Also there's a Heliport At Utica's St. Elizabeth Medical Center (AirNav: 71NY) as well.

Downtown hospital is a big mistake, especially when you look at the Oneida County Medical District already in place.

No Studies, No Reports, thus we remain #NoHospitalDowntown

Our research is ongoing, please check back. Our research is ongoing, please check back.