Association Of Air Medical Services To Testify In Medical Helicopter Safety Hearings

Main Category: Hearing / Deafness
Also Included In: Ear, Nose and Throat
Article Date: 02 Feb 2009 - 2:00 PDT

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What: The Association of Air Medical Services (AAMS) has been invited to participate in a four-day National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) public hearing on the safety of helicopter emergency medical services (EMS) operations. AAMS will be providing leading helicopter aviation and health care experts to serve as witnesses and interested parties at the hearing, which is set for Feb. 3-6, 2009. In addition, AAMS representatives will be available for on-site interviews.

As part of the hearing process, the NTSB will receive sworn testimony from expert witnesses representing all EMS-related communities - including pilots, flight managers, doctors, nurses, and EMS first responders - along with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) officials, who provide oversight. Most of these witnesses will serve on safety-issue panels. Hearing panel topics include Operational Structure and Models; Flight Operations; Aircraft Safety Equipment; Training; and Oversight.

In addition, "interested party status" has been granted to several organizations, including AAMS, so that they may question the witnesses during the hearings.

Why: The NTSB wants to learn more about helicopter EMS operations to better understand the complex, interrelated factors that lead to accidents. To that end, AAMS is actively involved in and committed to improving safety in helicopter EMS operations. Moreover, the association is working closely with regulators to improve the EMS operating environment but will not wait for regulation to act on safety issues.

To date, AAMS has been driving safety improvements in the areas of training, best practices, technology and data collection. Among AAMS' key safety recommendations to the NTSB are that all medical night-flight operations be required to either utilize night vision goggles (NVGs) or similar enhanced-vision systems, or be conducted strictly under instrument flight rules (IFRs), in a timeline established by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and in coordination with air medical service providers.

When: For four days, beginning at 9 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 3-6, 2009

Where:
NTSB Conference Center
429 L'Enfant Plaza, SW
Washington, DC 20594

About AAMS

The Association of Air Medical Services (AAMS) is the trade association serving the entire air and critical care ground medical transport community. AAMS, together with its charitable arm, the Foundation for Air Medical Research and Education (FARE), strives to enhance the medical transport industry by promoting the highest level of industry safety; promoting quality patient care; inspiring commitment to the industry's work, causes, and viability; and providing superior service to its members.

Association of Air Medical Services

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