Beaumont Addresses Worries Over Helicopter Flights

Residents sounded off at the Royal Oak Planning Commission meeting Tuesday, voicing their concerns over the expansion of a helipad at Beaumont Hospital.

“I don’t have a peaceful neighborhood anymore,” said Aggie Monfette.

Monfette and others protested that Beaumont One—the twin-engine EC135 helicopter that transports patients within Michigan and northern Ohio—and others like it, shake and rattle walls.

“They’re loud. They fly low and my whole house vibrates,” Monfette said, adding, “They don’t have a plan when they fly. They are all over the place.”

While sympathizing with residents, planning commissioners stated living next to a hospital is no different than living next to a fire station where neighbors "get used to the noise."

“If there is life and limb involved, they are going to do what they have to do to save that person’s life,” said Planning Commissioner Clyde Esbri.

On Wednesday, Maureen Elliott, community affairs liaison, Beaumont Health System offered the following statement:

We are working very closely with our neighbors to address their concerns.  In fact, our request to expand the helipad was related to reducing the number of flights over their homes. With an expanded helipad, we will have space to land a second helicopter like U-M’s Survival Flight, when Beaumont One is parked on the helipad.

Currently, Beaumont One has to take off to make room for a Survival Flight helicopter to land if they are coming here to drop off or pick up a patient. That adds noise and flights.

In addition, we recently changed the flight path of Beaumont One so that it follows Woodward Ave, then turns at Thirteen Mile in its approach to the helipad, rather than flying over the neighborhood north of Thirteen Mile.  We follow this path, unless weather conditions such as temperature or wind conditions are not favorable.

We recognize that the number of helicopter flights to Beaumont have increased with Beaumont One. But it’s important to remember that these are patients who require Level One Trauma services and Beaumont is the only Level One Trauma Center in Oakland and Macomb Counties.  Many of the patients are children who require higher level of care, that’s why they are being transported to Beaumont via helicopter.