The Army's emergency medevac helicopter flights, a lifesaving responder to serious traffic accidents and other medical emergencies on O'ahu since 1974, will be suspended on April 1.

U.S. Army, Pacific, at Fort Shafter yesterday said it was notifying state and city offices about suspension of the emergency flights so alternate plans can be made. The reason: The Black Hawk helicopter crews need to train for war duty.

"Due to the upcoming combat deployment of all Hawai'i-based U.S. Army medical evacuation helicopters ... we will be temporarily unable to provide (the service)," an Army notice said.

The notice said the service would return no earlier than October 2007.

State Rep. Kymberly Pine, R-43rd ('Ewa Beach, Pu'uloa, Iroquois Point), was very concerned.

"This is going to put us in a crisis situation, because when we have to medevac a person from the Leeward Coast to, for example, Queen's ... and there's traffic, this is going to be a big problem for us," Pine said.

Monica Ivey, a spokeswoman for The Queen's Medical Center, said the hospital is working with the state and city to try to come up with a solution.

The emergency flights are known officially as Military Assistance to Safety and Traffic, or MAST.

Twelve Black Hawk helicopters with Charlie Company of the 25th Infantry Division's combat aviation brigade and 85 to 100 personnel — representing all the medevac choppers — are deploying to Iraq over the summer, officials said.

Approximately 7,000 Schofield Barracks soldiers, including the division headquarters, 3rd Brigade and aviation brigade, are expected to head to northern Iraq around August for a yearlong mission.

Through late 2004, the 68th Medical Company flew 7,000 patients under a partnership with the state, which allows the military to transport injured civilians, officials said. More recent numbers were not available yesterday.

The Black Hawks are bigger and more powerful than the Hughes 500 helicopters that are flown by the fire department and normally used for rescues.

The Hawai'i Army National Guard, which has eight Black Hawks and has helped fly emergency missions in the past, does not have enough full-time aviation crews to take on the MAST role.

"It's not feasible for the Army National Guard to pick up that entire mission," said Hawai'i Guard spokesman Maj. Chuck Anthony.

Pine also raised the issue of having National Guard pilots who live in places such as Kane'ohe when helicopters are in 'Ewa.

"We're still in the beginning of talking about what we should do about the situation," she said.

The Army deployed some of its 68th Medical Company Black Hawks to Afghanistan in 2004, but kept others back on O'ahu, which meant the emergency flight service could continue. This summer, the entire aviation brigade is deploying to Iraq, officials said.

The Army is trying to find its own replacements for the 68th, which has been renamed Charlie Company of the combat aviation brigade, to fulfill training requirements on O'ahu and at Pohakuloa Training Area on the Big Island.

Reach William Cole at wcole@honoluluadvertiser.com.