For the past year, Oahu residents have been without emergency air ambulance service, which had been put on hold until Army and National Guard aviators and helicopters returned from Iraq.

However, John Landis, lead pilot and base manager for Oregon-based Evergreen Helicopters, said Army and National Guard officials are close to completing the details of a plan that would restore round-the-clock civilian air ambulance service.

Both the Army and Hawaii National Guard officials would confirm only that talks are under way to restore the service to Oahu. They declined to name any of the companies involved in the negotiations.

However, Landis said his crews have been flying around Oahu, scouting the landing zones that were used by Army aviators under the old Military Assistance to Safety and Traffic (MAST) program.

“;We've taken pictures and studied approaches to familiarize us with what is there,”; said Landis, who flew both Marine and Navy helicopters during the 35 years he was in the military. In addition to the 3,000 flight hours Landis has in helicopters, he has logged another 3,000 flights as airplane pilot, some of it while working for American Eagle.

He said that was necessary because the information given to him by Army aviators is four years old.

“;Take the landing zone near the Kapolei fire station,”; Landis said. “;The picture we got from the Army showed that it was surrounded by empty lots. That's not the way it is today. There are no real open areas near the fire station.”;

Based on the track record of the Army aviators, Landis expects to fly five or six civilian air ambulance missions a month.

Since November, Evergreen, based in McMinnville, Ore., has used two Bell 412 Enhanced Performance utility transport helicopters to provide air medical evacuation services and firefighting support under a $9.4 million contract. However, the current air ambulance contract covers only military personnel training here and at the Big Island's Pohakuloa Training Area.

The two Evergreen helicopters are manned by a crew of eight civilian pilots and 40 medics, mechanics and hoist operators.

Evergreen has partnered with Kauai-based Priority Air 1 Air Rescue, which provides the emergency medical technicians, many of whom work part time for Evergreen and full time either for the city Department of Emergency Services or the Honolulu Fire Department.

During each 12-hour shift, two pilots, two medical attendants and one hoist operator live in part of the Wheeler Army Airfield office space that housed the 68th Medical Company (Air Ambulance), part of the 25th Infantry Division.

From 1974 to 2006, the 120 aviators and mechanics of the company participated in the Army's popular and successful MAST program. During that time, Army officials estimate, MAST pilots transported 7,100 civilian patients on more than 6,000 aeromedical evacuation missions. That resulted in savings to the taxpayers of Hawaii of more than $91 million.

When the 68th Medical Company deployed to Iraq in 2006, the civilian air ambulance mission was assumed by the Hawaii Army National Guard's Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 207th Aviation, until it, too, was sent to Iraq, in July 2007. However, the Army Guard's coverage was cut to only 13 hours.

The five Hawaii Army Guard Black Hawk helicopters and pilots worked for only 13 hours a day - 11 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week. That was instead of the 24-hours-a-day Oahu emergency helicopter transport service provided by Army aviators and helicopters for 32 years.

The Hawaii Army Guard crews and helicopters were replaced by four helicopters and crews from the Army's Alaska Task Force 49 in 2007, when the Army contracted Evergreen. However, the Army contract covers only military personnel.

When the 68th Medical Company returned from Iraq last year, it was re-designated as Charlie Company of the 25th Combat Aviation Brigade's 3rd Battalion and is now preparing to return to Iraq next year.

Landis, 57, said over the past year his two green and white Bell utility helicopters have flown two injured soldiers from the Big Island's Pohakuloa Training Area to Hilo Hospital.

The air crews have helped extinguish one fire at Pohakuloa and another at Schofield Barracks.

Under the Army's contract, Evergreen helicopters have 15 minutes to be airborne and are given another 15 minutes to be on scene.

The Bell helicopters are configured to carry three litter patients and have a hoist capable of lifting 600 pounds and can carry a fire bucket containing 240 gallons of water.

Richard Magyar, who operates the helicopter's hoist, said during training the crews use a water bottle carrying 35 pounds of water to practice picking up victims and gently placing them down at another location.

“;That involves close coordination,”; Landis said, “;orchestrated between the pilot up front and the hoist operator in the back.”;