Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Rotorcraft
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown; Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
General None Reported / Taken
Airport; Environment - Non Weather Related
I am aware that the construction adjacent to the hospital; and the 3 cranes operating in close proximity to the helipad have been an ongoing issue. However; it has been passed on to me that if the cranes are not moving and they do not prevent an approach into an acceptable wind azimuth it is preferred to land at the hospital for the patient transfer. I was on approach on a patient and crew drop off; when I and the crewmembers did not observe crane movement so completed the landing. However; after the crew and patient disembarked I was to reposition for fuel and was ready for takeoff when the crane closest to the helipad swung from South to North counter-clockwise; above and to the left of the rotor disk. Had I lifted; the potential for collision was extreme; and if I had parked facing the South instead of North; I would not have even been able to see if the crane was is operation due to the hospital building entrance. After the crane cleared; I picked up to a hover and made sure I could depart away from the crane before it resumed operation. I find it hard to believe this is a standard operating procedure. I am aware that if it seems unsafe because the crane is in motion; the other options are to land at nearby locations. However; everything was safe for approach; but then not for takeoff. At that point it is too late to land somewhere else.I feel the need to be in direct communication with the crane operators instead of gambling on if they are going to have the patience for us to perform our job and jeopardize my team's safety. These cranes already present an obstacle issue in the stationary position.
BK-117 medevac pilot reported construction cranes near a hospital helicopter pad pose a serious threat to the operation as there is no communication between them and the aircraft.