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Safety

NTSB Safety Stmt 9-09

STAR Flight is absolutely committed to offering the residents and citizens of Travis County an effective, efficient, and most importantly, safe air-medical transport and rescue operation.  Much negative press has been recieved recently regarding the safety of the aeromedical industry. In an effort to stem the tragic loss of lives in aeromedical accidents, the National Transportation Safety Board has released a list of recommendations for companies providing aeromedical transport.  Following is an excerpt of a letter sent to local hospitals deliniating and clearly defining STAR Flight's committment to safety.

The white text is the NTSB's recommendations.  The blue text highlights STAR Flight's actions. 

 

http://ntsb.gov/Publictn/2009/AB09-HEMS.htm

NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD
Public Meeting of September 1, 2009
(Information subject to editing)
Four Safety Recommendation Letters Concerning
Helicopter Emergency Medical Services

RECOMMENDATIONS

 

The NTSB is issuing the following safety recommendations:

To the Federal Aviation Administration

  1. Develop criteria for scenario-based helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) pilot training that includes inadvertent flight into instrument meteorological conditions and hazards unique to HEMS operations, and determine how frequently this training is required to ensure proficiency. (A‑09-XX)

We are not waiting to see what the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) adopts with regard to this training. While we feel that our inadvertent flight into Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC) has been adequate we have been finalizing an IMC re-currency training program. The Director of Aviation or the Chief Pilot will be conducting IMC training with each pilot/crew on a quarterly basis at a minimum. This can be modified should the FAA adopt a more stringent requirement. 

  1. Once the actions recommended in Safety Recommendation (1) are completed, require helicopter emergency medical services pilots to undergo periodic FAA-approved scenario-based simulator training, including training that makes use of simulators or flight training devices. (A‑09-XX)

American Eurocopter Corporation (AEC), the U.S. manufacturer of the EC145 has an EC145 simulator at their facility in Grand Prairie, Texas. The Director of Aviation, Chief Pilot and Safety Officer will be completing an evaluation of the simulator and its role for initial and on-going pilot training this month. We are prepared to implement this training based on their recommendation and the FAA requirement.

  1. Require helicopter emergency medical services operators to implement a safety management system program that includes sound risk management practices.  (A-09-xx)

Safety Management System (SMS) was implemented at STAR Flight in the 2008 and we have recently completed our 2009 revisions.  We continue to review, critique and refine our safety program.

  1. Require helicopter emergency medical services operators to install flight data recording devices and establish a structured flight data monitoring program that reviews all available data sources to identify deviations from established norms and procedures and other potential safety issues.  (A-09-xx)

We have installed the Outerlink satellite tracking and cockpit video/voice recording systems in both aircraft in late 2008.  We installed a different satellite tracking system with the purchase of the EC145 but it did not have the flight data monitoring systems we felt were required.  This upgrade was funded by the Commissioners Court in the FY09 budget.  Additionally, we have a hoist camera recorder that is used to record public safety responses (SAR, Fire, Law Enforcement).  We will be pulling this data on a random basis to check for compliance with normal operating procedures and for process improvement. 

  1. Require helicopter emergency medical services operators to report activity on at least an annual basis to include total hours flown, revenue flight hours flown, revenue miles flown, patient transports completed, and number of departures. (A-09-xx)

We have no issue with reporting this information and will comply as soon as the reporting processes are established.

  1. Permit the helicopter emergency medical services Aviation Digital Data Service Weather Tool to be used by helicopter emergency medical services operators as an official weather product. (A-09-xx)

Once approved, we shall incorporate the program and make changes to our Operations Specifications to reflect FAA compliance.

  1. Conduct a systematic evaluation and issue a report on the requirements necessary for a viable low-altitude airspace infrastructure that can accommodate safe helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) operations. The evaluation should consider improved collection and dissemination of weather data, the role of automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast, approaches to helipad and designated landing zones, and integration into the National Airspace System. Include in the evaluation process HEMS operators, related industry associations, and hospitals, among others. (A‑09‑xx)

We will monitor the progress on the development of this plan and will strive to identify any additional aircraft equipment needed in order to operate in this new national airspace system.  This is a long-range project which will take time to develop and implement. 

  1. Once the evaluation and report as recommended in Safety Recommendation (7) are completed, initiate action to develop this infrastructure. (A-09-xx)

Will evaluate upon receipt.

  1. Require helicopter emergency medical services operators to install night vision imaging systems and require pilots to be trained in their use during night operations.  (A-09-xx)

Night Vision Goggles (NVG) and NVG compliant aircraft systems were purchased and installed with the acquisition of the EC145. All night flights since July, 2008 have been conducted with NVG’s available for all crew members.  

 

  1. Require helicopters that are used in emergency medical services transportation to be equipped with autopilots, and that the pilots be trained to use the autopilot if a second pilot is not available. (A-09-xx)

The EC145 was purchased as a Single Pilot Instrument Flight Rule (SPIFR) aircraft. To meet that requirement the aircraft must have an autopilot. Our aircraft are equipped with two identical and redundant autopilot systems capable of providing true hands-off flight capability.  In addition, we equipped our aircraft with a radar altimeter, color weather-radar, storm scope, twin Garmin GPS navigation systems (which includes a Traffic Information Service - an aid for collision avoidance), as well as the latest Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System (EGPWS) for terrain and obstacle avoidance. 

To Public HEMS Operators

  1. Conduct scenario-based training, including the use of simulators and flight training devices, for helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) pilots, to include inadvertent flight into instrument meteorological conditions and hazards unique to HEMS operations, and conduct this training frequently enough to ensure proficiency. (A‑09‑xx)
  2. Implement a safety management system program that includes sound risk management practices. (A‑09‑xx)
  3. Install flight data recording devices and establish a structured flight data monitoring program that incorporates routine reviews of all available sources of information to identify deviations from established norms and procedures. (A-09-xx)
  4. Install and require that pilots use night vision imaging systems for visual flight rules operations at night. (A-09-xx)
  5. Equip helicopters that are used in emergency medical services transportation with autopilots, and train pilots to use the autopilot if a second pilot is not available. (A-09-xx)

To the Federal Interagency Committee on Emergency Medical Services

  1. Develop national guidelines for the use and availability of helicopter emergency medical transport by regional, state, and local authorities during emergency medical response system planning. (A-09-XX)
  2. Develop national guidelines for the selection of appropriate emergency transportation modes for urgent care. (A-09-XX)

To the Department of Health and Human Services’ Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

  1. Evaluate your existing helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) reimbursement rate structure to determine if reimbursement rates should differ according to the level of HEMS transport safety provided. (A-09-XX)
  2. If the findings from the evaluation conducted in response to Safety Recommendation 1 reveal that higher levels of reimbursement are required to increase the level of safety, establish a new reimbursement rate structure that considers the level of helicopter emergency medical services transport safety that is required. (A‑09-XX)

      NOTE:  The Board approved additional recommendations regarding safety audit standards to CMS that are being drafted.