2017 Chinese Grand Prix

[AndyL]

Looks like we could be in for a fun weekend, assuming we get a race at all. Just a handful of laps for most in FP1, and FP2 was cancelled altogether as mist prevented the medical helicopter flying. In the past when there's been a lack of Friday practice, it's resulted in a mixed-up grid and an interesting race. The forecast for Sunday is more cloud and rain though, let's hope it doesn't ground the helicopter again.

[Bagwan]

I wrote this post in reaction to FP1 and 2 , but I figured it might disturb the thread , so I've copied it to a new one .
Sorry for the duplication .

Seems to me that they need a mobile surgical hospital in one of those containers they ship around the world .
Or , they need to require track owners to provide facilities fully stocked with staff and supplies during GPs , at least for places prone to atmospheric disturbance like this .

The world saw a sad crowd .
That's bad for the show .
And , the show must go on .

So , I predict they'll have a quick reaction to this one .
Toss some money at it , and you can fix the helicopter visibility problem we've had for many years .

It would have to be a vastly expensive box of tricks , but it would guarantee the staging of the race , which would have to be a huge plus .

[Nitrodaze]

Surprising really that there isn't a contingency for when the chopper is able to fly for whatever reason. We have a situation where the cars could drive the track but are not allowed to. I wonder if they would cancel the race if it turns out to be cloudy on sunday as well.

[BleAivano]

Surprising really that there isn't a contingency for when the chopper is able to fly for whatever reason.
We have a situation where the cars could drive the track but are not allowed to. I wonder if they would cancel the race if it turns out to be cloudy on sunday as well.

There are rules for when helos are allowed to fly and when they are not, called Visual flight rules.
These rules can be a little different from one country to another which is why helos can fly in a certain weather in country x but not in country y.

Page 34: http://www.icao.int/Meetings/anconf1...ons%5B1%5D.pdf

[zako85]

Fernando Alonso called Maranello. He wants his ride back.

[Nitrodaze]

There are rules for when helos are allowed to fly and when they are not, called Visual flight rules.
These rules can be a little different from one country to another which is why helos can fly in a certain weather in country x but not in country y.

Page 34: http://www.icao.int/Meetings/anconf1...ons%5B1%5D.pdf

I know that already. the question is why don't they have a non-helicopter alternative as contingency for when the chopper is grounded for whatever reason.

[N4D13]

I know that already. the question is why don't they have a non-helicopter alternative as contingency for when the chopper is grounded for whatever reason.

There is such an alternative: an ambulance. The problem is that the nearest hospital is too far away for an ambulance to get there in 20 minutes, so that was out of the question from the get-go. And if you can't get there soon enough by helicopter or by car/ambulance, what else do you have?

[Nitrodaze]

There is such an alternative: an ambulance. The problem is that the nearest hospital is too far away for an ambulance to get there in 20 minutes, so that was out of the question from the get-go. And if you can't get there soon enough by helicopter or by car/ambulance, what else do you have?

A local emergency unit fitted with the key equipment and personnel to deal with dire situations. The military get by with such a setup in war zones across the world.

[AndyL]

Surprising really that there isn't a contingency for when the chopper is able to fly for whatever reason. We have a situation where the cars could drive the track but are not allowed to. I wonder if they would cancel the race if it turns out to be cloudy on sunday as well.

They have got it sorted out for Sunday apparently. Seems the rule is not specifically that the helicopter has to be able to fly, but that you have to be able to get an injured driver to a fully-equipped hospital in 20 minutes. So they've moved some equipment to a smaller hospital nearer the circuit, and made arrangements for an ambulance to travel with a police escort.

[Tazio]

Quali dawgz!