Medical Helicopters

[pwln 0]

These things seem to be falling out of the sky a lot this year. I hope I never need one, but to be in an accident then die on a helicopter, that just sucks.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/09/28/medivac.crash/index.html

[skyjumpsteve 0]

the FAA is looking at EMS Helicopter safety too....it is not just skydiving planes they care about!

http://www.faa.gov/news/fact_sheets/news_story.cfm?newsId=6763

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-06-30-Crashes_N.htm

[pwln 0]

I don't know the exact numbers but I think we are around 12 medical aircraft crashes for 2008 in the US alone.

[Jumpervint 0]

We have about 4 jumpers who are RNs who work for the local medical helicopter biz. One of them is the DZO's wife. When see headlines about another med evac helicopter going down, I cringe that it might be local.

Condolences to the families of those killed in the Maryland crash.

Vint

. . . . .
"Make it hard again." Doc Ed

“A person needs a little madness, or else they never dare cut the rope and be free” Nikos Kazantzakis

[birdlike 0]

I've also read of some Angel Flight crashes recently. Those are really sad. Well, they're all sad -- the idea of victims and life-savers alike dying in crashes is tragic all the way around.

Spirits fly on dangerous missions
Imaginations on fire

[Beerlight 0]

Quote

These things seem to be falling out of the sky a lot this year. I hope I never need one, but to be in an accident then die on a helicopter, that just sucks.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/09/28/medivac.crash/index.html

Historically, I think they about hitting the average for mishaps. Seems the media covers it quickly these days, therefore making it seem that more incidents are happening.

Single pilot, lot of night ops, and often times single engine.... Tough envelope to fly in....

[pwln 0]

Looking at some other articles, it just seemed to me that there had been quite a few this year alone.

I've always thought that is (and would be) a very rewarding job to be a crew member of any type of thing like that. Very challenging for sure.

[Tuna-Salad 0]

Pretty crazy.. maryland has some nice birds too. I remember Regional One from Spartanburg SC crashed on takeoff a few years ago while lifting a drifter that had been hit by a truck on the interstate.

Millions of my potential children died on your daughters' face last night.

[jumpwally 0]

keep in mind they fly in bad weather....

smile, be nice, enjoy life
FB # - 1083

[Rookie120 0]

Quote

keep in mind they fly in bad weather....

And land in some pretty messed up places with lots of obstacles to run in to. Try doing a demo into a very tight backyard every time you jump and I think thats about what they do.

If you find yourself in a fair fight, your tactics suck!

[Tuna-Salad 0]

No doubt.. Those guys have some skills and balls. Aren't most former military?

Millions of my potential children died on your daughters' face last night.

[Rookie120 0]

The 2 that I know that fly medi-vacs are former military. They dont have to be though. But if you think fixed wing flight school cost's a lot look at how much it is to rent a helicopter. Thats why I think most are former military.

If you find yourself in a fair fight, your tactics suck!

[Tuna-Salad 0]

Indeed. I had a private and wanted to go into rotary and was pretty much told I did not need ground school but flight hours would be the same. Last I checked it was $290 / hour. If you really think about it though.. skydiving costs about that much (if you rent gear and do several jumps).

Millions of my potential children died on your daughters' face last night.

[grimmie 186]

There is a shortage of qualified helicopter pilots now. Companies are starting their own training courses for new hires(1,000hr min.).
I recieved my helicopter rating in 1993. It was about $20,000 to get my commercial ticket. It's about $45,000 now.
Flying medical helicopters is all about making good decisions, like all pilot jobs.

[skydiver30960 0]

Quote

Quote

keep in mind they fly in bad weather....

And land in some pretty messed up places with lots of obstacles to run in to. Try doing a demo into a very tight backyard every time you jump and I think thats about what they do.

Even worse, it's a demo into a backyard you've never seen before. With lots of flashing lights. At night. And wires. Lots and lots of wires. Wires take down more of these flights than anything else. Even with night vision, wires are almost impossible to see from the air, and at night can be hard for even the ground crews to see.

I've been training the past four years to be a flight nurse. I'm still building my ICU experience but hopefully I'll make it one day. Every time I see one of these stories I get the same feeling I get when I scan the Incidents forum. It's a gut check, a reminder of what's at risk, an affirmation that I still want to do this, and a promise to myself and those I love to mitigate as much risk as I possibly can.

Some of , someday hopefully some of .

Elvisio "chasing the dream" Rodriguez

[skyjumpsteve 0]

Sad...another one:

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/10/16/chopper.crash/index.html