Northumberland Health Care Centre Helipap

Regulatory and safety compliance. The primary reason for the closure of CA-0651 was its failure to meet updated, stricter Transport Canada aviation standards (specifically TP 312 5th Edition). The new regulations required larger safety zones and clearer approach/departure paths to accommodate modern, heavier, and faster air ambulance helicopters like the AgustaWestland AW139 used by Ontario's Ornge service. The original helipad's location was too close to obstructions like light poles, trees, and the hospital building itself, making it unsafe for the new generation of aircraft.

The original helipad site (CA-0651) has been permanently removed and the area has been repurposed as part of the hospital's grounds. Following a successful community fundraising campaign called 'The Helipad for Life', a new, state-of-the-art helipad was constructed on a different, more suitable part of the hospital property. This new facility was completed and became operational in July 2015. It is fully certified to the latest Transport Canada standards and is located to the east of the main hospital building, ensuring safe and direct patient access.

Designated with the ICAO code CA-0651, this was the original helipad for the Northumberland Hills Hospital (NHH). While the user query lists Port Hope, the facility is physically located in the neighboring town of Cobourg at 1000 DePalma Drive, serving all of western Northumberland County, including Port Hope. From the hospital's opening in 2003 until its decommissioning, the helipad was a critical piece of infrastructure for the regional emergency medical system. It facilitated the rapid transport of critically ill and injured patients, playing a vital role in time-sensitive cases such as trauma, cardiac events, and strokes. Its operation was essential to the hospital's function as a key acute care centre in the region.

There are zero prospects for reopening the original CA-0651 helipad. It has been permanently and officially replaced by the new, fully compliant helipad at the Northumberland Hills Hospital. The replacement ensures that the hospital and the surrounding community have a modern, safe, and reliable facility for air ambulance operations for the foreseeable future.