TEAAM Aeromedical demonstration at Magnusson Trailhead on Grey Mountain, Feb 23rd, 2024 / Courtesy: Macklen Linke
WHITEHORSE, YT – TEAAM Aeromedical, a non-profit Aeromedical group with an ambitious expansion plan to set up a new helicopter rescue base in Whitehorse, had gathered at the Magnusson Trailhead on Grey Mountain on February 23rd for a public demonstration of their “Class D” Helicopter rescue skillset. TEAAM Aeromedical, specializes in “Technical Evacuation and Advanced Aero Medical Services” and focuses their operations in the backcountry, and the most remote stretches of wilderness.
Steve Hahn, TEAAM Aeromedical’s project manager for the Yukon based “Team Skookum”, explained ahead of the demonstration that “Class D” means external human cargo. For a Heli-rescue crew, that means an operator is secured to a long line which is affixed to a winch below the helicopter. Hahn explained, this demonstration is a prime example of the type of calls TEAAM responds to in the backcountry.
“There will be a demonstration of Class D fixed line rescue a critically injured slow mountain biker of an embankment, transporting them to a ground location of safety, stabilizing them and transporting them by helicopter. And this will boil down to demonstrate in real time, the Class D fixed line rescue work.” – Steve Hahn, TEAAM Aeromedical’s “Team Skookum” Project Manager
Steve Hahn explains the move into the territory is a natural next step for the Aeromedical Services group. Steve says TEAAM fills a major gap in the existing service model for emergency medical services in extremely isolated areas, and will seek to augment and support existing service providers wherever possible.
“What we’re doing here is not directly replacing anyone into the existing services, but rather acting as a community partner to provide a service here in the Yukon that’s not already available in a dedicated forum. Many listeners might be surprised that currently outside of the National Parks is there’s no ready access to ‘Class D’ fixed line under the helicopter rescue or winch appropriate rescue services from complex terrain.” – Steve Hahn, TEAAM Aeromedical’s “Team Skookum” Project Manager
While the expansion is still in it’s early phase, Steve Hahn says there’s an opportunity for the future development of an airbase in the Dawson City area, as well as a strong interest in pursuing cross-border agreements with the State of Alaska in the hopes of green lighting the potential extraction of sick or injured Canadians from American jurisdictions back to Canadian soil for treatment.
