[단독] KAI, Lee Jae-myeong, and Lee Kook-jong hosted 24-hour ‘Doctor Helicopter’ in two years

Check-in 2021.03.23 06:00 | Revision 2021.03.23 07:24

Lee Jae-myung and Lee Kook-jong Strong will switched to ‘weekly → 24 hours’ system
Decrease in demand and accumulated deficit per crown

Korea Aerospace (047810)KAI will shut down the 24-hour medical helicopter business, which was first introduced in Gyeonggi-do and Aju University Hospital, for the first time in the country in two years.

According to the defense and aviation industry on the 23rd, KAI, a medical helicopter operator in Gyeonggi-do, plans to operate medical helicopters only by the end of this year. Originally, KAI had a contract with Ajou University Hospital annually and operated the medical helicopter under a bilateral agreement, but at the time of renewal last year, it was decided not to extend this year for the last time.

The reason the medical helicopter business was closed after two years was because of the Corona 19 incident and a large deficit that made it difficult to operate. It is not profitable to operate large helicopters as much as possible for 24 hours on a limited budget, and it is difficult to supply and supply the necessary parts for helicopter maintenance and repair due to the Corona 19 pandemic (a global pandemic).

KAI, which introduced the Airbus model H225 as a medical helicopter, planned to swap and replace Surion, a domestic helicopter produced by its company, with medical helicopters from last year. However, it appears that the loss-making business was difficult to continue due to the structure that took at least two years from the selection of a company to the manufacture and delivery of the helicopter.

An aviation and defense industry official said: “Dr. helicopters, which are narrower than ambulances and not separated from the cabin, are at high risk of infection, and patients with suspected COVID-19 infection They can be denied boarding, so the demand has increased. “Despite the opposition that it is unreasonable, KAI participated for the purpose of the public interest, but in the end, it was forced to go out of business.”

In May 2019, KAI signed a contract with Ajou University Hospital for the ‘Gyeonggi-do Emergency Medical Helicopter Introduction and Operation Project 2019’, and in September of the same year, the operation began in earnest. At that time, Gyeonggi-do introduced the helicopter doctor for the seventh time in the country and applied for the first time the concept of 24-hour operation so that it could carry out missions at night. As a result, six rescuers from Gyeonggi Fire and Disaster Headquarters were also dispatched to Ajou University Hospital to be dispatched 24 hours a day.

Industry officials explained that there was a strong will from Professor Lee Guk-jong Ajou University Hospital and Gyeonggi Governor Gyeonggi Lee Jae-myeong behind the reason why the medical helicopter, which had been operated only during the day ( from sunrise to sunset) for security reasons, it was operated 24 hours a day. A KAI employee said, “Even the medical staff at Ajou University Hospital objected that it was dangerous to operate 24 hours a day, but I heard that Professor Kook-jong Lee and the Governor of Do, Lee Jae-myeong, actually did going about a business with ‘eating mustard while you cry. ”When the building was constructed, there was a plan to deliver additional helicopters, but even this languished, which only negatively affected the financial structure,” he said.

Professor Lee Kook-jong filed a petition with the Supreme Court on September 19, 2019, before Governor Lee Jae-myeong, fearing that the introduction of a 24-hour medical helicopter would be destroyed. At that time, Governor Lee was sentenced to a fine of 3 million won, equivalent to ‘invalidating the election’, in the second trial of the appeal for public announcement of false facts under the Public Officials Election Act in relation to with the case of ‘forced hospitalization of the brother-in-law’.

In his petition, Professor Lee said: “I sincerely request that the Governor’s judgment be closely related to the life and safety of the people of Gyeonggi Province, which is why the administrative director of the province, who heads the province, he refrains from being judged too harshly. ” And said. Regarding the reason for the petition, the Supreme Court justices can hand over to the incumbent provincial governor who is doing his best to introduce the “ advanced country-type severe trauma patient treatment system ” that builds a network social security that protects the lives of citizens while fighting against the politics of cold reality. “Because it is an important issue for the tolerance and uninterrupted treatment of many patients with severe trauma.”

Some point out that the public service project to increase the survival rate of critically ill patients was carried out with some haste. An aviation and defense industry official said: “To operate the medical helicopter 24 hours a day, huge expenses are required, such as the provision of additional manpower and equipment for night operation. However, we have not been able to prepare countermeasures such as grants. “If it is left to a company, it will be possible to carry on a long-term business.

When KAI’s contract ends this year, the 24-hour medical helicopter business must appoint a new commercial operator. However, it is unknown whether a company will come out that will carry on the expensive business on behalf of KAI, Korea’s largest defense and aviation company. It is reported that KAI and Gyeonggi-do-Aju University Hospital are currently in consultation to select the next commercial operator and are awaiting a decision from the Ministry of Health and Welfare.