Medevac helicopter pilots are all too aware of the challenges involved in their missions. They often have to land and take off from areas not intended for use as heliports, including parking lots, farmland, and empty side streets.
They also have to fly very low—maintaining altitudes under 1,000 feet, where dangerous infrastructure, such as power lines, light poles, antenna towers, and trees can get in the way—with potentially disastrous results. Keeping proper situational awareness surrounding tail rotors and main blades—often measuring 35 to 50 feet long—can also be challenging.
