Outlines Medical Aviation’s Safety Practices

In a recently released NTSB probable cause report, the board concluded that pilot error and possible fatigue were responsible for a July 2010 West Texas incident involving a Cessna 412 operating as an air ambulance to go down just minutes after takeoff, killing all five people on board. Just days after the findings were announced, a forced landing of another medical transport company’s twin-engine plane claimed three more lives.

Although neither incident was related to Angel MedFlight, company CEO Jeremy Freer stresses that safety differences do exist and individuals seeking medical flights should know how to identify good – and bad – practices. “We extend our deepest sympathies to the families of the people who died,” says Freer. “Avoidable incidents that result in loss of life just shouldn’t happen. Many people may not be aware of the enormous quality and safety discrepancies that can exist among air medical transport operators. We want to give people the tools to make informed decisions.”

Fixed-wing medical flights are predominantly facility-to-facility transfers for patients who are too ill or injured to fly commercially. Patients are flown on medically-equipped aircraft and cared for by medical personnel, but that’s where similarities among some operators end. “Air medical transport isn’t like the airlines, where you can feel pretty confident that carriers are operating near the same levels of safety and excellence,” says Freer. “Sadly, there are some operators or brokers who cut corners. Individuals looking into medical flights should research the companies they’re calling and ask questions regarding operations, safety, aircraft, equipment and crew.”

Because of the highly-specialized nature of medical transportation, medical flights can cost thousands of dollars, leading many patients and families to base decisions on cost. “Unfortunately, a lot of times it comes down to the dollar amount and cheapest doesn’t always mean safest,” says Freer. “We are not the cheapest in the industry and frankly, I’m proud of that. We invest in top-of-the-line aircraft, medical equipment and personnel and we truly feel that we have the best program out there.”

FMI: www.angelmedflight.com