By Kevin J. Sabo
For the Advance
Castor council has agreed to work with Covenant Health and Alberta Health Services to ensure that the helipad at the Our Lady of the Rosary Hospital remains operational.
This work is coming after a late 2019 review of the Castor helipad “identified several modifications and upgrades that are required to meet Transport Canada safety standards, in order to accommodate the new H145 helicopter [used by STARS],” noted a statement issued by Covenant Health on Feb. 13th.
“We need to take steps to help them,” said Coun. Trudy Kilner during the Feb. 10th council meeting, where the issue was discussed.
With STARS rolling out their new fleet of Airbus H145 helicopters, Alberta Health Services began reviewing health care heliports across the province.
Some items that will need to be addressed include the removal of some treetops in the helicopter flight path and the marking of some poles and powerlines in the vicinity of the helipad.
The Town and Covenant Health will be working together to address the deficiencies that were noted in the report.
Further from the statement, “Covenant Health is working with Alberta Health Services, the Heliport Consultant, Transport Canada and the Town of Castor to investigate these recommended changes.
“We hope to have most of the recommendations completed in the coming months, subject to available funding. Once completed another review will take place to ensure the heliport meets all the required safety compliances.”