Medical emergencies are scary and swift response times for first responders can mean the difference between life and death. Hospitals around the nation are installing Heliports to provide expedited medical service. Quick access to helicopters allow first responders to reach the person in need more quickly, avoiding traffic blockages, and transfer patients from one hospital to another for immediate care. These heliports are built with the goal of reducing response times for emergency medical situations to, ultimately, save lifes.

The University of Maryland Capital Regional Medical Center in Cheverly, MD is near Washington DC. This metropolitan area is very congested and traffic can pose an issue for emergency vehicles. The team at the medical center determined the addition of heliports at this hospital to be a necessary and extremely important addition in order to provide expeditious medical service for the public in this area. 

In 2019, the University of Maryland Capital Regional Medical Center and FEC Heliports (FEC) began work on two new landing pads at the hospital. FEC brought extensive experience to the project. Since opening in 1996, they designed, manufactured and installed more rooftop and aluminum heliports than anyone else in the world. Since heliports are located outside, they need to withstand all weather conditions. The 125 tons of structural steel used in this project needed a coating system that would provide corrosion resistance that would last a lifetime with little required maintenance. Over their years of experience, FEC has found hot-dip galvanizing to be the preferred solution delivering on corrosion resistance, life-cycle cost, quality, durability and performance. They have made it a standard practice to hot-dip galvanize all structural components for all their heliports to ensure these hospitals can continue providing life-saving services without interruptions for maintenance, repair or replacement.

Although every project FEC Heliports works on is unique, they are all just as important when it comes to saving lives. The addition of two landing pads expands the University of Maryland Capital Regional Medical Center’s ability to reach people in medical emergencies quickly, even during busy times. It was important for this project, and the future of the hospital, to do this job once and do it right the first time. Hot-dip galvanizing plays a role in ensuring that goal is met.

FEC Heliports, partner of Federal Equipment Company, has three locations; Ohio, Virginia, and the United Kingdom.