Helikopter - USA HEMS

Ulykkesraten i denne utfordrende form for flyging er høy i USA. Allikevel innser en ikke nytten av å ha to flygere om bord som kan diskutere været og operative løsninger.

 

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

FAA Confirms Date for Air Ambulance Rule

The FAA has announced that a final rule regarding safety regulations for helicopter air ambulances will go into effect on April 22, 2015.

As part of the rule, pilots will be allowed to determine whether to take off from sites where weather reports are unavailable. If a pilot determines that the observed ceiling and visibility is greater than specified minimums, he or she will be allowed to fly.

According to an FAA fact sheet, 75 air ambulance companies operate about 1,515 helicopters in the United States. The task can be especially dangerous because the helicopters often fly at low altitude and in adverse weather conditions.

The announcement, which was published in the Nov. 3 Federal Register, marks the latest step in a rulemaking process that has lasted for nearly a year. The FAA initially said its final rule for enhanced operating procedures and altitude requirements would go into effect in April 2014, but the deadline was pushed back after it was determined that affected parties would need extra time to prepare.