Politics & Government

Grosse Pointe Woods, St. John's to Talk Helicopter Procedure

Grosse Pointe Woods and St. John Hospital officials will discuss noise complaints and flight paths this week related to the use of a helicopter for life-flights.

About two months after the Grosse Pointe Woods city council approved the use of a helicopter by St. John Hospital and Medical Center, officials are meeting to discuss flight paths and regulations, Woods Building Official Gene Tutag said.

The hospital received a special land use permit from the city in November to set up a temporary helistop for a medical helicopter. The permit has several provisions, including a "fly neighborly" procedure that requires the helicopter to fly over major corridors rather than over residential areas when coming in for landing or taking off. 

The corridors include I-94, Moross Road and Mack Avenue. 

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Officials will meet this week to discuss the four flights that have happened since the approval was given in late November, Tutag said, explaining the city has received complaints from residents about noise. 

Additionally, Tutag said the flight path has not been followed by the pilots.

Find out what's happening in Grosse Pointewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The location in Grosse Pointe Woods is only temporary as the permit is specifically outlined to last for six months, at which time it will automatically expire, and shall include a maximum of 25 flights in that time. 

St. John Hospital officials are working to secure a location on the Detroit side of the property for a permanent helistop, Tutag said. Once that location is set up, the location on the Grosse Pointe Woods side of the property will no longer be utilized, he said.

This is the second time the hospital has tried to use medical helicopters, Tutag said, noting they also used them briefly in 1980s.


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