Friday, November 04 2005 @ 10:26 AM CST
Contributed by: Admin
Views: 335
On October the 19th, 2005 in the interest of developing an attitude of continuing cooperation between the FAA, the air medical helicopter pilots in the State of Indiana, the Indianapolis Air Traffic Control Center (ATC), the Indiana Department of Transportation Aeronautics Section (INDOT) and the Indiana Association of Air Medical Services (INAAMS) a meeting was held to discuss a variety of comprehensive yet common operational, safety and industry issues specifically directed to air medical operations.
This safety consortium was a direct result of a collaborative effort between the Indianapolis (IND) and South Bend (SBN) Flight Standards District Offices (FSDO) of the FAA's Great Lakes Region and INAAMS. Given the growth of the air medical industry in Indiana, from four helicopters six years ago to 16 helicopters today all parties involved were in unanimous agreement that this meeting was needed and was very timely in nature.
All Air Medical operators were well represented by their pilots at the meeting as was the FAA, DOT, ATC, and INAAMS. The key note speaker, Mike Atwood from Aviation Specialties Unlimited, Inc. presented an overview of Night Vision Goggle (NVG) equipment updates, installations and use in EMS mission applications. Items of discussion primarily focused on communications, airspace, hospital heliports, joint operations and safety issues that are indicative to the air medical industry of Indiana. The attendees of this consortium have agreed to meet as a whole at a minimum of once a year with the air medical pilots themselves meeting quarterly as a group.
Bold print my doing....
Anyone reckon "competition" might be a factor here?
Before we tar and feather this pilot....we should remember an accident derives from a chain of events....and not one simple action or decision. There's several people and organizations that need to stand up and discuss their role in this. Tott says it right...this crew is alive...and if they will follow the lead of the Lady in New Zealand...some very needed good might come of this event.
I hope the PHI, CAMTS, NEMSA, FAA, NTSB....to name a few are prepared to do so.