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Cottage Hospital officials told the Santa Barbara City Counc...

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COMMENT 274669	2012-04-25 09:56 AM
Much better, the last few weeks have been just fine. Seems pretty clear they tried to get away with transfer flights in the first few weeks and no surprise residents weren't happy. They have since stopped and now we are getting the projected number of EMERGENCY flights. Well done to everyone that voiced their concern, citizen action is the only thing keeping this in check as our city leaders gave away any legal rights to force change.
COMMENT 274681	2012-04-25 10:55 AM
Agreed that everything's been fine since that first week (or two). The emergency flights are fine by me! But the ridiculous amount of flights that first week was just crazy. Glad the pilots seem to be following the rules & flight paths better, too. It surprised me the flight path mattered that much, but it does. As does not hovering for ages! Glad we have the technology, but I hope no one I know ever has the need to use it. :)
COMMENT 274691	2012-04-25 11:23 AM
Great news! This is exactly what the residents were told to expect when the helipad was approved, and now Cottage is sticking to what they originally promised. But none of this would have happened if it hadn't been for the residents complaining -- Cottage would not have taken these measures to reduce the number of flights if it weren't for the public outcry and media attention. It's better for everyone if the helipad is only used for its intended purposes. It would be terrible if a true emergency flight had to delay landing because the helipad were occupied by a non-emergency transport. Instead of calling area residents "whiners", everyone should be grateful that by restricting the helipad's use, it greatly increases the chances that it will be available when it's truly needed.
COMMENT 274697P	2012-04-25 11:47 AM
I still can't believe the city planners allowed the disappearance of St. Francis Hospital. Talk about putting your eggs in one basket! One serious fire or whatever at Cottage and we are left with Goleta Valley to serve the whole south coast.
COMMENT 274798	2012-04-25 04:32 PM
38 translates to 76 landings and take offs. It is still a problem when it lands at 10pm and then does not take off until 11:30. Why they sometimes take so long I don't know. In a perfect world the neighborhood would be given 6 hours from 11pm to 5am for sleep. Calstar has gotten them to stop using the "daylight for night lights" that are brighter then a stadium. This is a good move. The flight path still is in the windows of many homes. Many homes are at the level of the landing field. Something that was not thought about. Also have witnssed distressed landings in the wind. Need protocal for weather conditions. A board has been established to work with SBCH for on going imporvement. One young woman was turned away with an apendicitis and told to come back the next day for surgery as the hospital could not handle her at that time. Who gets treatment first? Helipad or ER? All questions to work out.

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