A new, more efficient helicopter for the Samu 76

A Viking in Normandy, what could be more natural?

Except that this one comes from Italy, all dressed in yellow, to replace the old helicopter of the Samu 76 from Rouen (Seine-Maritime) in service for nearly seven years.

Faster (280 km / h at top speed), more spacious and with a greater autonomy, it is the SAF group which makes it fly on behalf of the Rouen rescue service whose heliport is located on the roof of the Rouen University Hospital.

"It does not belong to the Samu 76, but it is used on an annual fixed price estimated at 400 hours, with an operating cost which oscillates around 1.3 million euros", explains one of the officials of the CHU , present during the inauguration of the aircraft at Boos aerodrome where it will be based.

The possibility of linking two missions

This represents around 400 interventions per year but, as Cédric Daam, the person in charge of Samu 76, explains, “its superior performance should allow us to increase the number of missions.

On the one hand, it is faster and on the other hand, its greater autonomy will sometimes allow us to chain 2 missions or to go further, to Paris or Lille for example, without having to refuel. .

This will also give us the opportunity to lend a hand to other rescue teams throughout the department and even in the Eure ”.

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Another advantage is the ability to take on a team of 3 people (paramedic, doctor and nurse) against 2 in the old model, to take care of the patient, whether for an emergency situation such as a road accident, or for a delicate transfer from the Rouen hospital center.

But in any case, underlines Christophe Letouq, one of the experienced pilots at the helicopter controls, “medical transport requires more flexibility and delicacy in piloting.

The comfort of the patient and the care that the medical team must provide on board must always be kept in mind ”.

In the future, the device should also be able to accommodate an incubator to transport infants who would need an emergency transfer.