The EADS North America UH-72A is a commercial off-the-shelf military version of the Eurocopter EC145 twin engine helicopter. The Lakota has a glass cockpit and reduced noise and vibration. Two squadrons in the region currently fly the Lakota; The United States Navy Test Pilot School and the District of Columbia National Guard 121st Medical Company (Air Ambulance).
For the Navy’s TPS, the Lakota replaced the venerable TH-6B Cayuse used for pilot training and differ from the Army Lakota because they are equipped with cockpit doors that can be jettisoned, a cockpit voice and flight data recorder, a main rotor blade folding kit and an air traffic advisory system. TPS took delivery of its first helicopter on Nov. 12.
The 121st Medical Company accepted its first three helicopters on March 12 making the unit the first such to receive the Medevac-equipped UH-72A which will replace its existing rugged UH-1H/Vs. A major difference between the UH-1 and the UH-72 are the eight VHF, UHF and FM radios.
LTC Maureen Bellamy, state aviation officer for the DC Guard, says “the aircraft’s avionics package allows us to communicate directly with first responders – law enforcement agencies and fire departments – something our old radios did not.”
Another difference is patient access. The stretchers enter the Huey from the side and are hung from straps. In the Lakota, the stretchers enter through clamshell doors at the rear of the fuselage and they are secured to the floor by rails.
Specialist Lauren Bloch, a flight medic with the 121st, finds this and the low vibrations a big advantage in patient care, especially when attempting IV access during flight.
Indian Head resident Sgt. Richard Sellner is a full-time technician with the 121st. He does the same job five days a week as a civilian government employee then dons the Guard uniform one weekend a month. He came to the unit, from NAS Pax River, in 2000 and says his “is the best job in the world.”
Finally, the “sporty” UH-72A is restricted to domestic operations where its primary mission is Medevac, disaster relief, passenger transport and law enforcement support. However, some are to be delivered to Puerto Rico, Germany and Kwajalein Island in the Pacific.
