HEMS Safety Issues IDed

The helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) industry’s overlapping oversight and poor organization has led to safety problems and last year’s record number of fatalities, according to a recently released safety review. The groundbreaking report released by the Flight Safety Foundation identifies eight "very high" risks within the air ambulance industry and 18 factors it labels "high" risks. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which regulates the HEMS industry, issued a statement saying it welcomed the report. "It confirms what we believe: Reducing risk in helicopter EMS operations demands a systematic approach," the statement says. The assessment provides a comprehensive look at the risks facing the HEMS industry. FSF says an Industry Risk Profile (IRP), developed by Aerosafe Risk Management, provides a roadmap outlining proactive steps that the industry and regulators can follow in order to mitigate these risks. Aerosafe developed the IRP using internationally recognized risk management standards. This independent analysis utilized a wide variety of data and perspectives from the HEMS industry. The IRP process is designed specifically to allow industry to step up and shape a way forward.