NTSB Hearing to Address Chopper Safety
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Public hearings on helicopter EMS operations begin Tuesday at 9 a.m. at the National Transportation Safety Board in D.C.
The four-day hearing is expected to attract a multitude of people from aviation experts, EMS officials, and other stakeholders.
The sessions -- telecast on NTSB's Web site are being held at 429 L'Enfant Plaza, SW, Washington, D.C.
While open to the public, citizens will not be allowed to testify. Organizations were required to submit documents or position statements ahead of time.
The issue of EMS helicopter safety has been a concern of the NTSB, and in October 2008 was added to its Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety Improvements, according to reports.
The National EMS Advisory Council was given an overview of the complex issue last week from Tom Judge, past president of Association of Air Medical Services (AAMS).
"2008 was the single worst year in medical aircraft history," he said, adding that crashes claimed 28 people. Of those, 22 were medical people or crew members and six were patients.
Judge, executive director of LifeFlight of Maine, said the NTSB reports that human error was cited as a major contributor in about 77 percent of the crashes. Night flights and flying in marginal weather are among those factors.
"There's always a pressure to fly, a pressure to fly, a pressure to fly," he said, adding, "When it goes wrong, it goes horribly wrong."
Across the U.S. there are 310 services operating 840 helicopters. Judge said 80 million Americans depend on those choppers to get them to the proper facility.
Safety concerns about air medical flights have been on the NTSB radar for some time.
Investigators released a report in 2006 following a probe of 55 EMS-related crashes. Safety recommendations they made to the FAA have not been fully implemented, officials note.
Air medical groups understand the importance of enhancing safety.
Joining the AAMS in a position paper to the NTSB are the Helicopter Association International and the Air Medical Operators Association.
"During the course of the four-day NTSB hearing, the associations estimate that over 3,000 patients will reach needed care through use of medical helicopters and aircraft. In our efforts to improve, we must not put more lives at risk by decreasing access to care."
They also said that technology comes with benefits but also new risks. "The air medical community is committed to improving safety of medicine and aviation."
The Patient First Air Medical Transport Alliance also has submitted a document that discusses the issues regarding safety.
The group concludes: "The first step to solving any problem is identifying the actual problem. To manage, and preferably mitigate, the ongoing safety issues within the air medical transport industry, all programs and aircraft must be identified and categorized to determine by common reference points the level of safety and clinical care practiced throughout our country today."
Related News:
- NTSB Hearing Examines Increase in Fatal Chopper Crashes
- NTSB Hearing: Responder Recounts Daughter's Crash Death
Related Links:
- NTSB: Hearing Information
- NTSB: Quick links to information on Helicopter Emergency Medical Services
- Association of Air Medical Services
- Helicopter Association International
