SAFETY PROGRAM:

Air Evac Lifeteam is not only a leader in the air ambulance industry, but is also a leader when it comes to making safety a top priority. Being safe is integral to providing our patients with the quality medical care they deserve and, equally important, a safe work environment for our pilots, nurses and paramedics.

Safety Initiatives

  • Air Evac Lifeteam is one of the only air ambulance operators to require all of its pilots to demonstrate IFR emergency proficiency in a dedicated flight training device. Because of this requirement, the company makes use of its dedicated flight simulator as part of an on-going pilot training program;
  • Air Evac Lifeteam requires all pilots to complete an annual week-long FAA-approved new hire and recurrent training program at a centralized training facility, including the requirement for pilots to demonstrate proficiency in the emergency maneuver of Touchdown Auto Rotation, a maneuver that, when executed properly, will save lives in the event of engine failure;
  • The company was the first air medical operator to have an EMS pilot positioned in its Operations Center 24/7 to provide up-to-minute weather information and perform flight risk assessments;
  • In order to provide a higher level of safety for its crewmembers, Air Evac Lifeteam has made a system-wide commitment to requiring helmet usage for all of its crewmembers;
  • Air Evac Lifeteam has installed SkyTrac® satellite tracking systems in its helicopters to enhance our ability to monitor flights on a real-time basis and ensure the safety of both our crews and patients;
  • Full-time Safety Officer’s sole responsibility is to ensure that all personnel are well-trained and highly conscious of safe operating procedures;
  • The Safety Committee, made up of several representatives from various departments within the company, meets on a monthly basis to review safety issues and establish policies;
  • Air Evac Lifeteam maintains a company-wide commitment to establishing a safety-focused culture encompassing numerous initiatives;
  • Air Evac Lifeteam performs Sentinel Event Analysis on all of its incidents to identify the root cause of the event and make recommendations to eliminate future similar incidents;
  • Air Evac Lifeteam is a leader in the air ambulance industry in implementing a system-wide Air Medical Resource Management program. This program is designed to teach crewmembers to work together and communicate better to create an environment where safety is job one.

Safety Results

  • Gold-rated by the Aviation Research Group (ARG/US), an independent aviation research group that thoroughly reviewed AEL’s operations and safety record;
  • Awarded the Operator's Safety Award in 2007 by Helicopter Association International, based on AEL's relative safety record within the air medical industry
  • Since 1990 and flying over 135,000 patient missions, AEL has experienced neither a weather-related accident nor an accident related to its maintenance program;
  • Received the FAA's Diamond Maintenance Award in 2007 for excellence in training and maintenance
  • Successfully accomplished company-initiated, third-party safety audits in 2005 and 2007 by well regarded industry experts