How Air Ambulances (Don't) work...

[BigMike]

Interesting documentary on US HEMS industry.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gdCH1XUIlE

[MightyGem]

Licence to print money. No mention of the horrendous accident rate though.

[Gordy]

No mention of the horrendous accident rate though.

Compared to? Have you looked at the actual statistics recently?

[MightyGem]

An accident every 40 days, on average, between 2006 and 2015 with 93 aircraft lost and 90 deaths in 92 accidents was not horrendous? I couldn't find any stats for 2015 to date. One would hope things have improved.

US HEMS Accident Rates 2006-2015 - Aerossurance (http://aerossurance.com/helicopters/us-hems-accident-2006-2015/)

https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2021-10-11/ems-helicopters-have-twice-average-fatal-accident-rate

[SASless]

Here is some grist for the mill.

One problem historically is the lack of uniform data collection and coding and limited detailed analysis that is a by-product of that.

Initiatives have improved the situation over time....oft times with lots of foot dragging and hand wringing by various actors....industry and government.

It finally got so bad that the negative press resulting from the many and frequent fatal crashes we have finally seen some good progress.

I remember hitting an Operator's Senior Management's nerve when I asked him how it felt to know he would be attending the Funerals of some of his Pilots every Year without fail.



https://www.faa.gov/data_research/research/med_humanfacs/oamtechreports/2020s/media/202119.pdf

[Robbiee]

Gee, thanks John Oliver for yet another, "You're being ****** over and there's nothing anyone can do about it" story.

Anyway, guess its time to get one of those Life Alert bracelets with "Do not transport by helicopter" on it.

,...and I love how the first set of blades they show is from a Robby. :ooh: