With a 60m boom and a jib height of 67metres, the most recent crane to be used for construction work was also the largest. It was needed to install air handling units on the hospital’s roof, just 30m away from the onsite helipad demanding a lifting process which could address both safety and operational concerns.
“We worked in partnership with the hospital’s facilities team to agree the process, ensuring none of the lifts would cause any disruption to the Air Ambulance,” explains Justin Horton, LST’s site manager.
“We had to communicate with air traffic control and the pilots to coordinate our lifts in-between landings and take offs. We also had a pager which provided us with an ETA for the helicopter, so we could ensure that work was stopped and the crane was safely moved out of the way in good time.”
Construction to date has seen LST stop work and move the crane numeroustimes to allow the helicopter to land safely.
The process, including the communication between all parties, has been so efficient that pilots from the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance invited Justin and Leon Gardner from our team to view the £1.2m helipad and look inside the helicopter.
“We felt very privileged to be invited to view the helipad and the helicopter which provides such a vital service for critically ill patients across the region,” continues Justin. “We’ve built a strong relationship with the pilots and the hospital trust in recent months and that’s reflected in the success of the crane lifts, which were co-ordinated without any issues or concerns.”
