Katherine Bickford

C-GCHJ – a Helijet Sikorsky S-76C air ambulance on the helipad at St Joseph’s General Hospital, Comox B.C.

The Helijet Sikorsky S76 is configured to to accommodate up to 2 stretcher patients and 4 medical attendants.  The aircraft is primarily used in patient transfers within a 100 mile radius of its Richmond base to or from hospitals, airports and/or on the scene calls.

• Manufacturer: Sikorsky
• Model: S-76C
• Serial: 760496
• Year Built: 1998
• Owner: Helijet International Inc
• Crew: two
• Capacity:
• Pasenger: seats 12–13
• Air Ambulance: 2 stretcher patients and 4 medical attendants
• Length: 16.00 m from tip of main rotor to tip of tail rotor
• Width: 3.05 m at horizontal stabilizer
• Height: 4.42 m to tip of tail rotor
• Empty weight: 3,177 kg in utility configuration
• Gross weight: 5,307 kg
• Fuel capacity: 1,064 liters, with 189 or 386 liters available in extra auxiliary tanks
• Powerplant: 2 × 981 shp Turbomeca Arriel 1S1 turboshaft  
• Main rotor diameter: 4× 13.41 m
• Maximum speed: 287 km/h at maximum takeoff weight at sea level in standard atmospheric conditions
• Cruise speed: 287 km/h maximum cruise speed is the same as maximum speed
• Range: 761 km no reserves, at long-range cruise speed at 4,000 ft altitude
• Service ceiling: 4,200 m
• Avionics:
• Honeywell four-tube EFIS and Collins Proline II avionics suite
• Four-axis fully coupled autopilot
• Integrated Instrument Display System (IIDS)
• Honeywell ground proximity warning system
• Honeywell Primus weather radar
• Dual comm/nav radios
• Automatic direction finder
• Dual attitude and heading reference system and air data computers
• Radio altimeter
• Mode C transponder
• Dual VHF omnidirectional range (VOR) and Instrument landing system (ILS)
• Distance measuring equipment
• Cockpit voice recorder