TIL: The Laurelhurst neighborhood restricts helicopter landings to the Seattle Children’s Hospital due to noise complaints

“Unless the child is extremely critical, we are forced to land over 1 mile away at an alternate pad and finish by ambulance” This creates delays in patient care, unnecessary transfers (which are some of the most dangerous things you can put a patient through) and added ambulance costs. Additionally: “SCH staff (except for surgeons, executives, and doctors) are prohibited from parking at the hospital. They park at a satellite lot and take a shuttle to work. This is to prevent ‘unnecessary’ traffic in the vicinity of the Laurelhurst neighborhood.” As discovered via a thread on X from a helicopter pilot: @hems_tool (search yourself due to [r/Seattle](r/Seattle) rules) edit: “I’m an employee and ... We can also get fired for parking on the street in Laurelhurst. Security patrols for employee license plates on behalf of the neighborhood and sends HR warnings.” Reports are kept here: https://www.seattlechildrens.org/about/facts-and-stats/helicopter-landing-reports/