VIENNA TWP., Ohio - The Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport has made security changes to give first-responders easier access to the runway.
Last month, 21 News reported on concerns raised by the Vienna Fire Chief after a medical helicopter landed, but rescue crews were unable to quickly get past a gate to access the helicopter.
At that time, Vienna Fire Chief Richard Brannon told 21 news that a gate stood between a Vienna ambulance and a Cleveland Clinic medical crew that had landed and needed to be transported to St. Elizabeth Hospital to pick up a patient.
Brannon said their medic drove to the air base.
The airbase then made contact with the control tower.
The control tower was able to contact someone at home who was sent to open the gate, according to the fire chief.
The chief estimates 15-20 minutes were wasted during that process.
Since then the Executive Director of the Port Authority says security changes have been made.
Tuesday night, Vienna rescue crews were able to use those changes to access a medical helicopter that landed after business hours.
Original article can be found here ➤ http://www.wfmj.com
VIENNA TWP., Ohio - When minutes matter, the Vienna Township Fire Chief said a man with a serious heart problem had to wait at a Youngstown hospital before he could be transported by medical helicopter to the Cleveland Clinic because of a communication problem between rescue crews and the Youngstown Warren Regional Airport.
It was about 12:30 Thursday morning and only a gate stood between a Vienna ambulance and a Cleveland Clinic medical crew that had landed and needed to be transported to St. Elizabeth Hospital to pick up a patient.
"I'm hoping it gets resolved now that a life was at matter. I feel it's time I put my foot down and say let's talk about this. No more wish-washy," said Vienna Fire Chief Richard Brannon.
Brannon said he's been asking to have access to the runway for the past 23 years. That's how long he has been fire chief in the township.
There's a keypad outside the gate at the airport, but the chief has never been given the code.
"We have done this before, but it's just always been in the daytime and somebody has been there. Now, since nobody is there at night, what are we suppose to do?" questioned the chief.
In the situation Thursday, the chief said their medic drove to the air base. The airbase then made contact with the control tower. The control tower was able to contact someone at home who was sent to open the gate, according to the fire chief.
The chief estimates 15-20 minutes were wasted during that process.
Executive Director of the Western Reserve Port Authority John Moliterno said he's never had any conversations with the Vienna Fire Chief.
The airport's director just recently resigned.
But in an emergency action plan given to the chief, there are the cell phones of airport personnel.
Moliterno said he's willing sit-down and work this out.
"I will make sure we have my security chief and TSA involved in that conversation, but if it's about providing them access in emergency cases we could do that," said Moliterno.
Story and video ➤ http://www.wfmj.com
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