Hi HEMS
No scientific evidence for this, however I would suggest that 90% of near misses in HEMS operations (excluding damage to 3rd party property from blown debris) happen during approaches to wide open sites. It is my belief that when making approaches to genuinely confined HEMS site everybody’s attention is concentrated on the dangers! Approach to a wide-open site and everybody’s concentration drifts to less important items.

Cheers

TeeS

Hi What Limits, Long time no see! How's Canada?

I haven't added up all my HEMS missions at LNAA over the last 10 years but my average is about 400 a year.

.. However, the best one for me has been my own "rescue mission"........



2008http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i9...C00051-1-1.jpg 2010http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i9...DSCF1010-2.jpg

Photoshop!!

Hi HEMS,
Do you have a hypothesis for your thesis yet, or are you still in 'fishing expedition' mode?
Jolly

I agree with SASless suggestion and I may add; the effect of wearing NVGs especially in the takeoff and landing phases and their impact in safety.

Having used NVG's for all phases of flight....I strongly endorse making them a requirement for all EMS night flights....hands down they are the best safety feature going. Add in a three axis autopilot system (if not a four axis) and safety rates are bound to improve greatly.

Bertie, thats just plain nasty - you sure you got them the right way round?

Anyone who has not seen the NTSB report into HEMS accidents should read it soon.


This is some of what the FAA has to say

NVG - Night HEMS in other countries
 

HEMS Research
I would like to read the result of your work once you finish it.
It would be absolutely interesting.

SASLess
I'm new in this job, I'm curious about HEMS night flight in other countries.
In Italy at night we can only fly from/to night certified helipads and airports, for what we call "secondary" services.
Therefore at night we can't be called for "primary" (wonder if you use the same words to call the transfers and the missions on the scene).
We are far from introducing NVG. I'm not sure but I would bet that at the moment only the military are equipped with.
How about your country? What missions are carried out with NVGs?
I was also surprised when at our CRM course they told us about the statistics of HEMS accidents in USA.
Many CFIT during "transfers", comparing to Europe.
Thanks

What Limits, thanks for the links


Vaibronco

What Limits, definitely right way round! I've bought a picture off a bloke called Dorian Gray..............

(actually the doc found I was allergic to grains and nightshade plants)

My research is more exploratory based, so i am trying to get the pilots perceptions on "challenging" aspects of the landing and TO segment.

So i don't have a group experiment and no hypothesis.

I would be gratefull, if you could maybe post some issues.....

Hi HEMS,

The original study the NTSB published on HEMS is NTSB/SS-88-01: Safety Study, Commercial Emergency Medical Service Helicopter Operations, and the FAA's was DOT/FAA/DS-88/7: Risk Management for Air Ambulance Helicopter Operators. The NTSB report is quite a thorough undertaking and I was surprised with how many frank conversations with crews they included as examples. When you compare these with the more recent documents (linked above), you can get a clear picture of the ongoing issues in the industry.

Another good resource is the Air Medical Physicians Association's "A Safety Review and Risk Assessment in Air Medical Transport." They (AMPA) also publish a journal that could provide some insights, and there is a pilot (aircrew) equivalent in the States as well.

Also, if you can get a copy, the (US) Congressional Research Service published a report titled 'The Safety of Air Ambulances' (2006).

And (excuse me gents as I cite it again) a few years ago Bert Boquet at Embry-Riddle did an HFACS analysis of HEMS accidents. This has interested him for a while (he was the helo guy when he was at CAMI) and he'd probably enjoy the call. (Don't let his title intimidate you, he's from the bayou and has a low power distance.)

More recently, last year the FAA published a study in the HFES journal reviewing their work with HUDS and different display features in the sim. The results were quite surprising, and should be a 'must read' for anyone advocating the use of synthetic vision in EMS ops.

So anyway... hope that gets you started. I'd love to hear more once you firm up a topic.
:-)
Jolly

Thanks for all the interesting pieces of information!!! They certainly help to build an overall picture what is going on....

However, with for example the HFACS analysis, these are done after the accident has happened. Things which come out of this are... pilot decision making... or pilot judgement..... however I dont think this is really helpfull towards HEMS pilots. (i might be wrong, but I dont really know what they mean with decision error... if it isnt put into a clear context).

That is why I am trying get "your" views of what risky situations are..... while for example assessing the landing site. Why is it difficult to see or do something, what makes it difficult?

Thanks again for your help guys, and especially to those who PM me!!!:ok: