Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Rotorcraft; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 60; Flight Crew Total 3800; Flight Crew Type 1500
Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict NMAC; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors; Procedure; Airport
At [hospital helicopter pad] following the completion of a [medical] transport; the crew and I completed our walk around and started the aircraft...with all required lights on. I completed the takeoff checklist and after making the required calls (stating our location; direction of departure; and destination); I increased collective and established the aircraft in a stable hover in order to perform hover checks. As I was preparing to slide left with the left side crewmember (our paramedic) clearing my slide; he advised me to hold my position immediately because another [helicopter] was about to land on top of us.Eventually the other aircraft saw us and he/she slid to their left and established their helicopter in a steady hover at approximately 30 feet up; 40 feet to our 9 o'clock. They remained in that hover for approximately 30-40 seconds and then waved off to the south. I attempted to contact that aircraft on the common frequency but they did not answer.When they were clear and out of their turn and heading back to the north; I departed to the south and made a turn out to the west; enroute...for fuel. I contacted flight communication and cleared to the west without them saying anything to us or advising us of another aircraft in the area. If it weren't for the paramedic seeing the searchlight of the other helicopter and his timely call; I am fairly we certain that we would have been hit by the other aircraft. The other aircraft should have been up on the helicopter common frequency. Also; the pad is not big enough for two aircraft to be turning in such close proximity without having direct communications with each other.
Helicopter pilot reported a NMAC with a helicopter attempting to land on the same hospital helipad from which he was lifting off.