Jet suits are being trialled for paramedics in offshore wind farm teams – RenewEconomy

Danish clean energy giant rstedis taking offshore wind safety to something of a futuristic level as it explores the use of Jet Suit paramedics to support staff working on the worlds largest offshore wind farms.

rsted is developing some of the worlds largest offshore wind farms including the massive 7GW+ Hornsea zone in the UK, which is located more than 90kms offshore and features turbines of 190m tall and more.

It has partnered with Great North Air Ambulance Service(GNAAS) andGravity Industriesin the UK to trial onshore the viability of Jet Suit paramedics for the wind industry.

Powered by five gas turbine propulsion assemblies positioned on the arms and back, the Gravity Industries patented Jet Suit generates over 1,050 horsepower, 144kg of thrust, and a maximum forward speed of 80km/h for flight times of around 1 to 3 minutes.

Trials began in February and saw experienced GNAAS paramedics training to use the Jet Suit in the Lake District of northwest England. Training has already enabled a GNAAS paramedic to compete their first free flight, safely operating the Jet Suit unassisted, with a new group of paramedics soon to follow.

According to rsted, the next stage of training, expected to begin during the Northern Summer, will develop GNAAS paramedics flight skills to a level where real operational experience can be assessed, and real assistance can be provided via Jet Suit paramedics in the Lake District.

Looking forward, rsted is hoping Jet Suit-capable paramedics will be able to provide on-site triage and urgent casualty response at offshore wind operations that will likely dramatically improve patient stability and survivability.

The Jet Suit would allow paramedics to quickly transfer to and from offshore structures in the case of an emergency.

Our drive for creating the Suit came from wanting to challenge what seemed like the impossible, and to now see it being used for areas of Special Forces mobility and First Response Search & Rescue, its very exciting, said Richard Browning, founder and chief test pilot at Gravity Industries.

Were enjoying working in a new sector and helping the front-line workers in clean energy. The Jet Suit produces up to 144kg of thrust; the thrust to weight ratio works out to be greater than any known Jet Fighter we are aware of.

Joshua S. Hill is a Melbourne-based journalist who has been writing about climate change, clean technology, and electric vehicles for over 15 years. He has been reporting on electric vehicles and clean technologies for Renew Economy and The Driven since 2012. His preferred mode of transport is his feet as he never learned to drive and his learners permit ran out.

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Jet suits are being trialled for paramedics in offshore wind farm teams - RenewEconomy