No doubt. The weather was getting worse, the light was failing and he obviously had a major problem out there. They'd also managed to get the race in the books too. Throw the red flag and get them off the track. Good call. I don't think he knew how bad it was until later though. Doesn't matter. He did the right thing IMO. Although, of course, there are some that will whine they didn't get the chance to finish 'under green'...... Ian
It was there. It was operable. There was just nowhere it could go. Ideally the the race should have been suspended when the hospital became socked in. but given how many other precautions were ignored that was never going to happen.
The helicopters were good to go. At least at the circuit. In fact, as has now been said many times, one of them took off while Jules was in the medical center. Leading to (incorrect) speculation that he was onboard. Apparently, the medical center decided he was at less risk in a police escorted ambulance than the chopper. [there was some speculation that the change in pressure flying to altitude was another unnecessary risk. Don't know if that's true or not.] Again, they *never* run, not just the race, but also practice, if the choppers can't fly. Regards, Ian
I am not sure about the protocol but I guess the requirement is that the helicopter can start and land at the track and this is what happened as seen in TV. By then the race reporters still thought that Bianchi was in that helicopter taking off just to hear later that he was not...But the helicopter was taking off for sure...
And they could have gone to the 'major' hospital if needed. (Nagoya I think Ted said). The medical staff made the decision that his best bet was a police escorted ambulance to the local place. Little, if any time wasted, and they know what facilities are where..... These are no longer the amateurs on a jolly that existed before Prof Sid - He *insisted* (and had some pretty anal checklists according to some) that the onsite people knew, documented and signed off on what was where within range of both ambulance and chopper. Further, that the hopspital(s) within range were also on standby - their medical staff had to sign off on that too. Read his book. Ian
I think you catch my drift. All was fine at the track and no one bothered to check conditions at the hospital. "Not my job man".
Yup. But that's on the press and the fans. If you want to discuss this please refer to the Schumacher thread and get back to us in a week or two when you're done reading it in its excruciating entirety.
Not true. Sid really did cover the bases here....... Including getting signed documents from any and all hospitals as to their facilities, capabilities, and readiness.... Who would be on duty at specified times, what specialists would be on site and so on. Ian
helicopters do NOT fly at "altitude" as one would consider an airplane would... helicopters fly just clear of obstructions... pressure change to the patient is not a factor... the medical team has its' reasons for their choice of transport... the initial comment was about weather grounding the helicopter, if the weather is below minimums, race officials can remove themselves from making decisions about the weather if it makes safety equipment inop It's in the regs a helicopter must be available for a race to occur... a COTA race was held up until the helicopter was in place...
Of course. And, given Sids requirements to know who's got what facilties and where they made an informed decision. Good for them, and all the work Sid put in to ensure the best possible care, wherever that may be. Absolutely! And, obviously, as we know, the choppers were flying. Hence they were racing. I don't get your point here? The rules were followed.
the extent of the discussion reveals conditions were different than as broadcast, where mention was made that the helicopters were grounded due to weather... allowing for speculation that race officials could remove themselves from making weather decisions if all safety equipment was not available for use..
Another link, seems they are coming down very fast Le terribili immagini dell'incidente di Jules Bianchi a Suzuka Incredibly violent crash, lifting a tractor is no small feat.
OK, fair enough. So you accept that the claims you made here were incorrect, right? You now know that's a completely wrong claim, right? I'm not trying to argue or not pick here, it's some pretty important facts we're debating. Regards, Ian
Have there been any allegations by anyone with actual information and authority that transport by vehicle versus the helicopter contributed to or increased Bianchi's injuries? Mark
At the risk of being the guy in the thread who seems to be continually "minimizing" the severity of the crash ... Lifting a tractor is certainly no small feat, but lifting the back of a tractor when an F1 car is suspended from the crane in the front is considerably easier. The front wheels of the tractor ... acting as the pivot-point or 'fulcrum' ... are bearing the majority of the tractor's weight when it's lifting a car by an extended crane/arm. No doubt it's a VERY severe crash ... and my best possible wishes for a full, speedy recovery!
Very good point! Thanks. Obviously doesn't change anything, it all still sucks the big one, but well noted regardless. Just goes to show we shouldn't jump to conclusions too easily...... Ian
[Levity warning] Officially, or unofficially? Or unofficially official? Sorry.... [/end levity] Not that I'm aware of. Some reports suggested (speculation of course) that the hospital was so close that with a police escort, it was just as quick to go via road. And safer for him. Again, the protocols Sid put in place allowed the on track medical staff to make the best decision for him that they could. That decision was obviously to go via ambulance & not chopper. Ian
