TMT - Contested Case Hearing Status - Hilo

[TomK]

There are helicopter landing areas on Mauna Kea, but at lower altitudes than the summit area. These are places the observatories know where to bring victims in an emergency. All summit staff are trained in first aid/CPR/AED and also have access to an emergency evacuation vehicle in the worst case (I think it has only been used once in a real emergency while I've been here).

Although there are helicopters that could be used to make an emergency evacuation from the summit possible, I don't believe any civil operators can do that so it would have to be military, and we don't have any idea if and when that might be. It's much faster to be in contact with 911, stabilize the victim and get them down to a lower altitude where emergency services can help. This is something that is drilled into us continuously!

So, in answer to your question, it's possible but not reliable.