Children’s Memorial Hospital officials argued at a public hearing last night that a proposed heliport at the hospital’s future Streeterville location is safe and will save lives.

But Streeterville residents who oppose the plan say low-flying emergency aircraft present a dangerous problem, given swirling downtown winds and the numerous high-rise buildings in the area.

The hearing, moderated by an administrative law judge, was held in order to give Illinois Department of Transportation more information on the heliport plans.  IDOT is one of several government agencies whose approval is needed for the plan to proceed.

Last night's hearing was the first of four on the topic. Tonight, representatives of the Streeterville Organization of Active Residents will make their case against the helipad.

The new Children’s location, 215 E. Chicago, is slated to open in the summer of 2012.

Experts who testified on behalf of Children’s say the design of the heliport should allay any fears. They say the flight path is sound, the wind patterns are predictable and the safety precautions are based on the most conservative regulations.

Children’s president and CEO Patrick Magoon said a heliport is essential to help children in critical condition. The hospital has operated a heliport at its current Lincoln Park location for about 20 years.

Magoon said more than 70 children are flown to Children’s each year, and their “lives would be deeply endangered were it not for the presence of a helipad.” The hospital’s heliport plan, he said, considers the safety of its patients and staff, and the Streeterville community.

Residents have expressed concern over the number of flights that will take place. Children’s transport team director Dr. Ronna Rozenfeld, said just over 2 percent of the hospital’s patients arrive by helicopter. The heliport would be used only to transport Children’s patients.

Residents have also complained that the area’s landscape, combined with high winds, could make for a dangerous equation. However, Children’s experts said the flight path, coming in east off Lake Michigan and from the south, wouldn’t be hampered by either tall buildings or wind. The Federal Aviation Administration has approved the flight plan already.

Jeffrey Jackson, a project manager at aviation consultancy Landrum & Brown, said the elevated location of the heliport would allow helicopters to avoid buildings.

Dr. Meiring Byers, a wind engineer, analyzed historic wind patterns in the area, and concluded that wind would have minimal effect on pilots’ abilities to maneuver aircraft. Children’s has also said that pilots would not be allowed to fly if wind exceeds 25 knots, or about 30 mph.

Robert McKenna, the hospital’s architectural administrator, showed diagrams of the heliport, and said it exceeds city, state and federal standards in a number of areas. The landing pad is larger than the city and state require; it would employ state-of-the art weather and navigation technology, and it would have a fence to protect it from wind.

“The ability to meet and exceed codes and regulations should contribute to making this as safe a facility as possible for the intended use,” McKenna said.

The plan has already been approved by the Chicago City Council.

IDOT will make a final judgment in the coming months.  IDOT counsel Ellen Haskins said the department looks forward to hearing testimony from experts retained by the Streeterville Organization of Active Residents, or SOAR.

“We are very conscious of the concerns of both sides,” she told the crowd of more than 300. “This is very important that we have your concerns and your position on the issues.

Still, opponents of the plan remain wary.

“If there’s an accident in this neighborhood, it could be terrible,” said Streeterville resident Hugh Stevens, who came to hear more about the hospital’s proposal. “I’m in favor of Children’s Memorial Hospital, but I don’t think Children’s thought about this enough before they decided to move.”

Alderman Brendan Reilly (D-42) has proposed an alternate landing pad, near Navy Pier. However, hospital officials say the risks of transporting a patient from a helicopter to an ambulance are too great.