My condolences to families and friends of the crew. Very sad news indeed
. Some points from the article..... "....6 am...., thunderstorms in the area, return trip to base"
"Julie Heavrin, a spokeswoman for Air Evac Lifeteam, said from company headquarters in West Plains, Mo., that the weather at the time was considered too dangerous for their helicopters to fly."
What the hell? Why did they fly when Air Evac wouldn't? Why did they fly when thunderstorms raged in the area in darkness? Why did they risk their lives and paid the ultimate price when the patient was already delivered?
And the company website says "....for enhanced safety..... has been committed for over 21 years to providing the highest level of care.... using the best eqiupment possible..." Yeah right
Hospital Wing - Helicopter Life Flight - Air Ambulance
No NVGs, no EGPWS, no Flight Date Recording, but the B3 had an autopilot.
Why does it all sound so familiar to me? Have a look at the comments under the article and some things become clear.
Why is it heroic when three people die for nothing? Why do they have "to put their lives on the line every day"? Should EMS operations be about putting the lives of three people in very serious danger every time the helicopter lifts off? What kind of logic justifies the loss of three lives when the patient was already delivered? Why do EMS crews try to push the limits and autsmart weather and physics? Is it because they are or want to be heroes? Is it because they want to save lives?
Another three lives wasted for a system that is sick and rotten itself.
Don't get me wrong though. EMS crews do a tremendous job which is very important for the society. I admire these people. I just don' t get it why a system that allegedly exists to save lives kills so many people and why there is still no law that dictates a decent standard for safety equipment for EMS ships in the US.
Sad greetings
Hospital Wing is a non-profit air medical transport which provides inter-hospital transfers as well as emergency scene calls within 150 mile radius of Memphis. This area includes West Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, Missouri, Alabama, and Kentucky.