Canadian Designed Hospital-In-A-Box Fits Inside Chinook Helicopters and Can Be Set Up Anywhere to Save Lives
VANCOUVER — One of the many dangers in today’s humanitarian or military operations is the exposure of helicopters and their aircrews when flying into hostile environments with vital high-value equipment slung under the aircraft, making them easier targets.
With an under-slung load, the CH-47 Chinook helicopter’s Defensive Aids Suite (DAS) is effectively redundant and the full flight envelope compromised when flying in challenging terrain. In the past, it has led to damage to aircraft and this high-value, life-saving equipment being released and destroyed when in mid-flight, delaying medical care to troops and civilians.
In response, Weatherhaven has developed the innovative Tactical Redeployable Expanding Container Capability (TRECC) system of shelters that can fit inside the body of a CH-47 and be flown at high speed to emergencies. The TRECC will be launched at one of the world’s largest defence and security shows in September at London’s DSEi 2011.
For over 15 years, Weatherhaven has been at the forefront of expandable containerized shelters that are used from the Arctic to Antarctica and from the Amazon to Africa. he new TRECC system consists of modular units that can be shrunk in size and are lightweight enough to transport inside a CH-47 Chinook helicopter (TRECC-H, Helicopter variant), or on the back of a High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) (TRECC-V, Vehicle variant).
The TRECC-H has a payload volume of 11.8 cu m (418 cu ft), enough space to stow a medical triage unit, which incorporates the latest fibre-optic communications technology.
When the helicopter lands, the TRECC can be deployed within minutes. The roof rises to eight feet and the sides unfold to provide 23.7 sq m (255 sq ft) of working space, enough for a fully equipped medical centre. The TRECC is already filled with the necessary equipment that can be moved swiftly into position to begin saving lives. All TRECC units are self-contained and easily interconnected with other Weatherhaven units to form extended operational bases.
“We have created a new system to rapidly and safely deliver emergency hospitals and a range of other capability that will save the lives of civilians and troops,” says Ray Castelli, CEO of Weatherhaven.“ It’s a Canadian innovation and we now have world-wide patents that are pending. You might say they are a hospital in a box and we are already getting interest from NATO. There are all kinds of applications for this unique made-in-Canada technology”
Weatherhaven would also like to acknowledge the support of the Canadian Government, which has played an important role in collaborating on solution development and showcasing our products on numerous global deployments since 1989.
“Our Government is proud to support innovative companies like Weatherhaven,” said the Honourable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification. “The TRECC is an excellent example of the ground-breaking projects being achieved by western Canadian aerospace and defence companies and we’re proud to have such an extensive presence here at DSEi.”
Effective re-deployable capability is key to any emergency response in a rapidly changing world. The TRECC enables the instant creation of vital infrastructure, in whatever conditions, in the remotest reaches of the world.