The seaside helicopter rescue lift platform is a facility specifically designed for helicopter takeoff, landing, and dispatch in coastal and nearshore areas. It plays an important role in maritime rescue, emergency medical transportation, coastal patrol, and other work. The following is a detailed introduction to it:
structural characteristics
- Platform entityUsually constructed with high-strength steel or composite materials to resist the harsh environment of dampness and high salt content at the seaside and prevent the structure from being corroded. The platform area needs to meet the space requirements for safe takeoff and landing of helicopters, and generally anti slip surfaces are set up to ensure the stability of helicopters during takeoff and landing.
- lifting systemHydraulic driven lifting mechanisms, such as scissor type or other types of lifting devices, are commonly used to adjust the platform to a suitable height according to actual needs, such as during high or low tide, or when the helicopter needs to be lowered to a specific height for easy loading and unloading of rescue supplies, transfer of wounded, and other situations.
- Fixed and anchoring devicesDue to the strong winds and waves at the seaside, specialized fixing and anchoring equipment will be equipped to ensure the stability of the platform in harsh sea conditions. The platform will be firmly fixed to the ground or seabed to prevent displacement or overturning.
- ancillary facilitiesIncluding navigation lights, wind indicators, and other navigational aids to assist helicopters in accurately finding and landing on platforms under complex weather conditions; There may also be mooring devices installed to secure the helicopter after landing and prevent it from being blown by the wind.
working principle
The lifting of the platform relies on a hydraulic system. The hydraulic pump converts the mechanical energy of the electric motor into hydraulic energy and delivers pressure oil to the hydraulic cylinder through hydraulic pipelines. When it is necessary to raise the platform, hydraulic oil pushes the piston of the hydraulic cylinder upwards, driving the platform to rise; When descending, by controlling the hydraulic valve, the hydraulic oil in the hydraulic cylinder flows back, and the platform descends smoothly under its own gravity and the control of the hydraulic system. At the same time, operators can adjust the lifting speed, position, etc. through the control system.
Application scenarios
- maritime rescueWhen there is an emergency situation such as a shipwreck or drowning at sea, the helicopter can quickly fly to the affected area, land on the lifting platform, and rescue personnel can quickly carry the helicopter to take off again for rescue operations, or provide initial treatment and transfer of the rescued wounded on the platform.
- Emergency medical transportationFor coastal islands, remote fishing villages, etc., if there are critically ill patients, helicopter rescue platforms can be used to quickly transport them to hospitals with better conditions for treatment, greatly reducing rescue time and improving the success rate of treatment.
- coast guard The Coast Guard or relevant law enforcement departments can use helicopters to take off from the lifting platform and patrol along the coast and near the sea areas, monitoring illegal fishing, illegal immigration and other illegal activities.
advantage
- High flexibilityThe lifting function enables it to adapt to different sea conditions and operational needs, ensuring normal takeoff and landing of helicopters at both high and low tide levels. Compared to fixed altitude takeoff and landing platforms, it has stronger environmental adaptability.
- rescueGreatly reducing the response time for maritime rescue, enabling rapid deployment of rescue forces, improving rescue efficiency, and saving more lives and property.
- versatilityIn addition to rescue, it can also be used for various tasks such as coastal management and marine scientific research monitoring, improving the comprehensive utilization rate of facilities.
challenges faced
- Adverse environmental impactThe strong winds, waves, salt spray, and other factors at the seaside cause severe corrosion and wear to the platform structure and equipment, requiring regular maintenance and upkeep, which increases operating costs.
- High technical requirementsTo ensure the safe and stable operation of the platform under various complex conditions, high technical performance requirements are placed on the lifting system, fixed devices, etc., resulting in significant research and development and construction costs.
- security guaranteeDue to the involvement of helicopter takeoff and landing, high reliability requirements are placed on the platform's navigation, communication, safety warning and other facilities. It is necessary to establish a comprehensive safety guarantee system to prevent accidents during takeoff and landing.