Football field or meadow - how rescuers choose temporary sites
During large-scale fires, earthquakes, or repairs to fixed landing areas, air medics have to quickly find temporary locations for helicopters. As representatives of the Australian service CareFlight and the Norwegian service Norwegian Air Ambulance noted, remote or difficult terrain often forces pilots to land as close as possible to the victims in random areas - football fields, roads, parking lots, or open meadows.
To land safely on an unprepared surface, crews first study digital maps and conduct aerial reconnaissance. The ground beneath the helicopter must be flat and firm enough to withstand the load, including in the event of a possible engine failure. In addition to free space for the propellers and maneuvering paths, pilots assess the risks of the powerful air flow from the rotor to civilians, vehicles and property on the ground.
The management of such sites varies significantly depending on the country: in Norway, verified natural points are entered into a special company database for reuse by colleagues. In Australia, local residents, police, or medical personnel from remote communities are often involved in perimeter control, vehicle access, and site clearance of foreign debris.
Source: Space to land - AirMed&Rescue
Context
In Norwegian air ambulance, the landing area is measured by the conventional value D — the maximum size of the helicopter, taking into account the rotation of the main and tail rotors. According to this rule, the minimum safe area during the day must be no less than 2×2D, and for landing at night, the regulations require an expanded space — no less than 2×4D.