Trying to Stay Airborne
Helicopter 18, a multimillion-dollar rescue and firefighting powerhouse, has protected scores of Los Angeles County homes from advancing brush fires, buzzing rooftops to douse a flaming hillside with up to 360 gallons of water. It's raced heart attack victims to faraway hospitals; it's landed on freeways to transport injured motorists faster than a wheeled ambulance.
But today, the shell of this Bell 4-12 helicopter sits in an aircraft hangar in Pacoima, its internal chunks of machinery spread out on nearby metal frames for inspection. Cobwebs hang from a set of rotors waiting to be installed.
"That shows you how long it's been in here," said Dennis Blumenthal, the county Fire Department's acting chief of helicopter maintenance, as he swept a finger through a layer of dust.
As the peak of the fire season approaches, the Los Angeles County Fire Department's fleet of seven helicopters is spending more time on the ground than in the air, beset in part by a shortage of mechanics to keep up with rigorous maintenance requirements. The low wages paid to county mechanics have compounded the problem, making it difficult to recruit for the demanding job.
In addition, replacement parts are in short supply as helicopter manufacturers try to meet the needs of the U.S. military in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Four of the county's helicopters are old, with engines and rotors that require frequent repairs, sometimes when least expected. Two were built in 1981 and are scheduled for replacement next year at a cost of roughly $7 million each. Two more are 13 years old.
The fleet has had problems for at least four years but has been particularly hard hit in the past three months. From May through July, only one or two of the seven helicopters were available half the time. Two have been grounded since March.
"In a matter of minutes, we could be down to one helicopter, and it frustrates the hell out of everyone," said Battalion Chief Anthony Marrone, who heads the department's air operations section.
The county's fleet of helicopters must cover 2,300 square miles, including large swaths of unincorporated areas and dozens of cities that contract with the county for fire services. Three sheriff's helicopters also ferry trauma victims in the same area, but only fly in daylight.
The shortage of helicopters is most critical in the Antelope and San Gabriel valleys, where severely injured accident victims must travel long distances to a hospital.
