Stretcher loading assembly

1. A stretcher loading assembly comprising:

a support member operatively attachable to an aircraft floor;

an elongate rail member attached to the support member;

an elongate traverse beam movably attached to the rail member;

a trolley assembly movably attached to the traverse beam, the trolley assembly including lifting means movable between a lowered position and a raised position, the lifting means adapted to support a stretcher in the raised position; and

a turntable member located between the support member and the aircraft floor, the turntable member enabling the support member to be rotated relative to the aircraft floor,

wherein the support member is at least twice as wide as the rail member,

wherein the turntable member is attached to tracks attached to or incorporated into the aircraft floor,

wherein the turntable member is attached to the tracks by a plurality of studs attached to the turntable member,

wherein each of the plurality of studs is releasably and movably attachable to one of the tracks,

wherein each of the plurality of studs has a stop member adapted to releasably secure the support member to one of the tracks, and

wherein the stretcher loading assembly includes one or more stop levers movable between a first position in which the plurality of studs are movable relative to the tracks and a second position in which each of the plurality of studs are secured by the respective stop member relative to the tracks.

2. The stretcher loading assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the support member is at least 1.5 m in length and at least 500 mm in width.

3. An aircraft having

a stretcher loading assembly comprising

a support member operatively attached to a floor of the aircraft;

an elongate rail member attached to the support member;

an elongate traverse beam movably attached to the rail member;

a trolley assembly movably attached to the traverse beam, the trolley assembly including lifting means movable between a lowered position and a raised position, the lifting means adapted to support a stretcher in the raised position; and

a turntable member located between the support member and the aircraft floor, the turntable member enabling the support member to be rotated relative to the aircraft floor,

wherein the support member is at least twice as wide as the rail member,

wherein the turntable member is attached to tracks attached to or incorporated into the aircraft floor,

wherein the turntable member is attached to the tracks by a plurality of studs attached to the turntable member,

wherein each of the plurality of studs is releasably and movably attachable to one of the tracks,

wherein each of the plurality of studs has a stop member adapted to releasably secure the support member to one of the tracks, and

wherein the stretcher loading assembly includes one or more stop levers movable between a first position in which the plurality of studs are movable relative to the tracks and a second position in which each of the plurality of studs are secured by the respective stop member relative to the tracks.

4. The aircraft as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the aircraft is a helicopter.

5. The aircraft as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the aircraft is a fixed wing aircraft.

6. A method of loading a stretcher into an aircraft, using a stretcher loading assembly as described in claim 1 , the method comprising the steps of

moving the traverse beam to an extended position relative to the rail member;

moving the trolley assembly along the traverse beam to an extended position distal to the rail member when the traverse beam is in the extended position;

moving the lifting arms to the lowered position;

positioning a stretcher adjacent the loading assembly;

moving the lifting arms to the raised position to support the stretcher;

moving the trolley assembly to a retracted position proximal to the rail member;

moving the traverse beam to a retracted position relative to the rail member; and

rotating the stretcher relative to a floor of the aircraft.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6 , further including the step of securing the stretcher to the support member.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the step of securing the stretcher to the support member includes securing the stretcher to attachment tracks of the support member.

9. The method as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the stretcher is attached to attachment members by straps, and the attachment members are attached to the attachment tracks of the support member.

10. The method as claimed in claim 6 , further including the step of lowering the lifting arms towards the lowered position when the trolley assembly is in the retracted position such that the stretcher is lowered onto the traverse beam.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10 , wherein when the stretcher is lowered onto the traverse beam, the stretcher engages with and is secured to the traverse beam.

12. A stretcher loading assembly comprising

a support member operatively attachable to an aircraft floor;

an elongate rail member attached to the support member;

an elongate traverse beam movably attached to the rail member;

a trolley assembly movably attached to the traverse beam, the trolley assembly including lifting means movable between a lowered position and a raised position, the lifting means adapted to support a stretcher in the raised position; and

a turntable member located between the support member and the aircraft floor, the turntable member enabling the support member to be rotated relative to the aircraft floor,

wherein the support member is at least 500 mm in width,

wherein the turntable member is attached to tracks attached to or incorporated into the aircraft floor,

wherein the turntable member is attached to the tracks by a plurality of studs attached to the turntable member,

wherein each of the plurality of studs is releasably and movably attachable to one of the tracks,

wherein each of the plurality of studs has a stop member adapted to releasably secure the support member to one of the tracks, and

wherein the stretcher loading assembly includes one or more stop levers movable between a first position, in which the plurality of studs are movable relative to the tracks, and a second position, in which each of the plurality of studs are secured by the respective stop member relative to the tracks.