In Queensland, Australia.
We have three types of HEMS operation. The primary operation is a State Government run service called EMQ (Emergency Management Queensland). It has three Agusta AW139s based at Brisbane, Townsville and Cairns, supported by three Bell B412 as standby/maintenance spares. These aircraft are staffed by a pilot, an internal crewman, a rescue (external) crewman, and an Intensive Care Paramedic. They will also take a doctor when indicated. They are fully IFR. They are airport based. They have and do use NVGs.
Another HEMS op in Queensland is Community Helicopter Service Providers (CHP). They have a range of aircraft including BK117, B407, B412. They rely on community funding plus fee-for-service from the Health Dept, Emergency Services etc. They are mostly IFR, since NVFR ops have been responsible for the only HEMS fatalities in Australia - which were also CHP. The Government funding only applies to aircraft that meet the minimum criteria of multi-engine and IFR, with suitable crewing. They mostly have a pilot, 2 x crewmen, paramedic and doctor as required.
The last lot are contracted EMS providers to specific locations / tasks, such as a couple of B412s based in the southern inland gas drilling area contracted to the exploration company, and a B412 in the Torres Straits in the far north, contracted to the Health Dept, IFR, and carrying pilot, an internal crewman, a rescue (external) crewman, and an Intensive Care Paramedic.
Pilots in the full-time professional shows are on $A110K to $A120K+/year, as well as significant salary packaging benefits. They need an Aus ATPL(H) with 2500 min, 1500 PIC (H), 500 turbine, 200 muti-turbine PIC, 100 night, CIR(H).
The paramedics are on around $A90K. The Crew - dunno.
Last edited by Al Fentanyl; 20th Oct 2011 at 16:55.