RE: State Police Helicopter Crisis – DEJAV ALL OVER AGAIN    

Dear Senator Miller and Delegate Busch,

During (8 November 2007) the 2007 Emergency Special Session of the General Assembly a debate brewed on the Senate floor over the secretly inserted new spending of $110 million for new state police helicopters,”... putting money away when we haven’t solved the policy question”. The Chairman of the Senate Budget & Taxation Committee announced “helicopters are flying out there are not as safe as they need to be”. According to State Legislatures their experts are telling them the reasoning for new MSPAC helicopters are:  “... helicopters life expectancy is up”, “... helicopters are becoming unsuitable to fly” “not able to acquire parts”,” high maintenance cost” and “cramped helicopter cabin space”.  

The Maryland State Police Aviation Command (MSPAC) was the first in the US to order the AS365 N3 Dauphin UPGRADE. The MSPAC has already upgraded SIX of its Dauphins AS365s to the latest AS365 N3 configuration. MSPAC chose the Dauphin over all other models, as it is the only aircraft to meet the Command’s RIGID specifications.   In a 2003 Interim Report by Joint Legislative Committee, P. 12, “Due to the current relationship MSP has with the manufacture, would prefer the Eurocopter”.  

Myth #1: Dauphin Helicopter Life Expectancy:

There are hundreds upon hundreds of helicopters still operating in the U. S. that are older than our state police helicopters - many 30 + years old.

FAA records (http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry) show the same model helicopter used by the state police still in service dating back to 1982. You find at Hershey Medical Center in Pennsylvania their Dauphin Helicopters (3) dates of manufacture range from 1982-1988. Recently Hershey (2005-2006) invested approximately $6M in two of their crafts to upgrade them to the latest model and plan to get another 10 + years. Why can’t Maryland do this…seems like it would cost much less and provide funding for “Foster Care for Children” and Public Schools?

The United States Coast Guard (USCG) has proven that the Dauphin helicopters can be renewed to provide many more years of useful life. In fact, the USCG has passed the 1 million flight hour milestone for its Dauphin twin-engine helicopter fleet. The USCG recently upgraded 89 Dauphin Helicopters lifecycles to 41 years expecting that they will last from 1985 to 2025.

The USCG fly their Dauphin’s in the most harsh and unforgiving aviation environment compared to the State Police helicopters.

Myth #2: Helicopter Maintenance PBH - SBH

No matter what helicopter manufacture it is, there is mandatory maintenance according to flight hours. The maintenance cost will always be there no matter what helicopter manufactures. Hershey Medical center flies some of the oldest Dauphin helicopters in the country and will continue to maintain and operate them for many more years.

Many helicopter operators carry a helicopter maintenance and parts policy called “Parts-By-The Hour” (PBH) or “Support-By-The-Hour” (SBH). A Guaranteed maintenance/parts type program provides parts availability assurance (and priority) to the users. PBH is similar to your automotive extended warranty policy. Shouldn’t the MSPAC maintenance know this Cost Savings Policy after all their experience?

It is my understanding Aviation consultant Conklin & de Decker (www.conklindd.com)- Products, provided MSPAC with aviation computer software package “MxManager”. Current description of MxManager:            to track, organize, and control maintenance activities and expenses, including work orders, purchases orders, and inventory functions. This software contains management reports to track cost and labor. MSPAC may have an older version of MXManager but have data software as described.

Helicopter Parts Ordering:

I am told that operating older helicopters does involve more maintenance and spare parts than new crafts. I am also told that some older helicopter spare parts may be harder to get from the manufacture or other suppliers. I was surprised to find out that many parts for the Dauphin helicopter are not made by the manufacturer. Hershey Medical Center operates a 1982 and 1988 model Dauphin and have minimal to NO PARTS PROBLEMS. Hershey knows they must order some spare parts with long lead time and it is my understanding Hershey has a Guaranteed PBH Maintenance/Parts Policy.

Myth #3:  Helicopter Cabin

A comparable helicopter the Agusta AW139 although being substantially heavier and more expensive aircraft, the AW139’s CABIN is only 0.1 in higher than the Dauphin AS365’s (4.7 in vs. 4.6 in). Most importantly, head space is usually the driving factor for AMS operators is being able to look after patients.

In Closing: Maryland’s political leadership along with the legislature can maximize the overall medevac helicopter systems by appropriately incorporating all the resources including the private sector which has a higher level of emergency care providers. The private sector is stocked with an expanded medication inventory and more advance medical equipment than our MSPAC for the most critically ill/injured patients. Marylanders should have the right to have the closest medevac helicopter to the Scene with the highest level of aeromedical emergency care as documented in the national industry standards, Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems (www.Camts.org). I am promoting more cooperation not abandonment of either private or public operations to best and most efficiently serve the citizens of Maryland.

My concern is that money not being spent wisely for new helicopters could go to the Foster Care issue, schools or one of many deserving areas. If the State would upgrade the Dauphins as others have done, it would make millions of dollars available for these critical services, and I trust as a concerned citizen that legislators will do the right thing and redirect the spending to those who need it most.

Sincerely,
Dick Johnson, Statewide Constituent

CC:  Governor Martin O’Malley
Legislative Leadership
Members of the Maryland General Assembly
Maryland’s Press and Media Corps