Thank you, IAFC!

[Dustdevil]

Thanks for opposing legislation to prevent more senseless HEMS deaths. The families of the dead will be forever grateful, I'm sure. You are such heroic, selfless lifesavers. Arseholes.

http://www.ems1.com/air-medical-transport/articles/806760-Why-is-air-medical-transport-still-killing-us

Why is air medical transport still killing us?

Headlines such as 'crew members killed in air medical crash' are not new news

By Art Hsieh

EMS1 Editorial Advisor

Since September last year, there have been four crashes of medical helicopters, resulting in 12 deaths. The latest came last month in Brownsville, Tenn., where all three crew members died.

The National Transportation Safety Board issued its preliminary report into the crash Monday but is yet to rule on the cause.

Headlines such as 'crew members killed in air medical crash' are not new news — which is concerning. Several columnists and authors have commented on this issue, from Bryan Bledsoe and Paul Mazurek on EMS1 to New York Times reporter Christine Negroni.

The NTSB issued a report in 2006 that identified safety weaknesses in air medical operations and provided recommendations to the risk of crashing. That report was based on a study of 55 crashes that occurred from 2002 to 2005, resulting in 54 fatalities.

Between 2007 and 2008, 35 deaths occurred during nine crashes. Subsequent meetings between medical helicopter industry representatives and the Federal Aviation Administration have focused on trying to improve the safety and reliability of air medical transport.

In a 2009 survey on how medical helicopter providers responded to the FAA "best practices" recommendations, inspectors noted the following adoption rates:

Decision-making skills and risk assessment programs – 94 percent

* Response to FAA guidance on Loss of Control (LOC) and Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) avoidance – 89 percent

* Integration of operation control center – 89 percent

* Installation of Flight Data Recorders and devices that can re-create a flight – 11 percent

* Terrain Awareness and Warning Systems (TAWS) equipage – 41 percent

* Use of radar altimeters – 89 percent

Yet helicopters are still crashing.

The number of medical helicopters and the number of flight hours logged have grown exponentially. Critics have pointed to issues surrounding the medical necessity of:

Using helicopters for emergencies

* The staffing model of having one pilot aboard

* The lack of federal regulatory oversight

* Flying under inherently very dangerous conditions

* The potential pressure felt by operators to remain financially solvent.

There is a growing amount of attention being paid to this area of emergency medical transport, and debate.

Yet we're still crashing, with tragic results.

The National EMS Memorial Service has honored EMS personnel who died in the line of duty since 1993. While noting that the service does not track all fatalities in the United States, it is sobering to note that 215 of its 538 inductees died from air medical crashes. That's almost 40 percent.

[Kiwiology]

Exactly how did the IAFC oppose this?

Maybe "dual pilot IFR" or "14 CFR 121/135" or other such terminology was too hard for them to understand?

[Dustdevil]

Sorry for the confusion. I had just finished posting this thread, where the IAFC touts it's 2009 "accomplishments". The number one accomplishment was opposition of FAA regulation.

http://www.emtcity.com/index.php/topic/18215-attack-of-the-firemonkeys/

[Kiwiology]

What a bunch of retards .... I mean they go on and on about NFPA 1710 and yet when it comes to what is essentially the equivalent for HEMS oooooh its big and bad and lets shoot it down.

Wankers.

Edited April 14, 2010 by kiwimedic

[Dustdevil]

Basically what they are demanding is that EMS helicopters be exempted from the safety regulations that are imposed upon commercially operating aircraft when they are not loaded with a patient. The majority of EMS helo crashes occur when they are not loaded with a patient to begin with. Exempt them from safety measures and that figure will only increase. As if the lives of the crew are worth any less consideration than that of a patient. Idiots. But remember... firemen are all about "life safety"! Just ask them!

[aussiephil]

What a bunch of retards .... I mean they go on and on about NFPA 1710 and yet when it comes to what is essentially the equivalent for HEMS oooooh its big and bad and lets shoot it down.

Wankers.

Thats an insult to retards

[JPINFV]

Thats an insult to retards

It's also why you never go full retard.