Air Transport Safety Standards Quiz

CAMTS

• Accrediting body for flight and ground transport programs.
• Performs audits and site surveys.
• Standards include:
  • 4 flight-ready pilots for 1 aircraft operating 24/7.
  • Pilots must have 2000 flight hours, 1000 as PIC, 100 at night.

FAR Part 135: “Air Taxi”

• Applies to all flights conducted for compensation.
• PIC is ultimate authority.
• Maximum 14-hour day for pilots.
• Max 8 hours flight time in one day.
• 8 hours “bottle to throttle”.
• Passengers must be provided safety briefing.

Local Area vs. Cross Country

• “Local flying area” must be well defined.
• Cross country flights are those outside of the local area.

Child Restraint Systems

• (Pt weight in pounds) x speed = force needed to restrain.
• National Association of State EMS Officials has an approved list of available restraint devices.
• Ensure that child’s weight and height are both in the specified range for the device.

Surface Transport Safety Belts

• Ambulance personnel must be seat belted when the ambulance is in motion.
• Side facing bench seats are not recommended.

Dispatching Flight Requests

• The dispatch information should contain NO information about the type of incident, patient, or acuity.

Mission Safety Decisions

• “Three to go, one to say no”.
• Pushing weather is one of the chief causes of accidents.
• "Put your manager hat on".

Risk Assessment Tools

• PAVE Checklist:
  • Pilot
  • Aircraft
  • enVironment
  • External pressures

Flight Following & Operational Control

• Satellite tracking systems strongly recommended
• Rotor: 15-minute position checks.
• Surface: Time must not exceed 45 minutes while on ground without communication.

Post-Accident Incident Plan (PAIP)

• Transport-tracking protocol requires PAIP.

Walk Arounds

• “FOD”: Foreign Object Debris

VFR and IFR

• VFR: maintain aircraft control by visual cues.
• 14 CFR 91.155: VFR weather minimums
  • Day: 1 mile visibility, 500 feet.
  • Night: 3 miles visibility, 500 feet.

Inadvertent Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IIMC)

• Pilot unprepared by the loss of visual reference.

Ground Transport Risk Management

• Ground transport can be just as risky as flight.

Crew Resource Management

• “A team member’s awareness of how their action or inaction affects the safe operation of the flight.”
• “A superior pilot uses his or her superior judgement to avoid situations requiring his or her superior skill.”
• "SEE IT.SAY IT.FIX IT.”

CRM Tenants

• Leveling of hierarchies when safety concerns arise.
• Agreement on near-term objectives.
• Consideration of all available options.
• Workload management/delegation.
• Monitor and evaluate results.

Critical Phases of Flight

• Takeoff and landing.
• Refueling.
• Taxi.
• Traveling through busy/controlled airspace.

FAR 121.542/135.100 – Sterile Cockpit

• No crew member may engage in any activity during a critical phase of flight that could interfere with proper conduct of flight duties.

Laser Strikes

• 2021: 9,723 laser strikes.
• High powered lasers can incapacitate pilots.
• Penalties of up to $11,000 per violation.

LANDING ZONE: MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Secured, illuminated.
• Free of overhead and ground obstructions.
• Free of debris.
• As level as possible.

HELICOPTER APPROACH AND EMERGENCY PROCEDURES

• Never approach from the rear.
• Do not travel uphill from aircraft.

Categories of In-Flight Emergencies

• Land immediately.
• Land as soon as possible.
• Land as soon as practicable.

Emergency Shut Down Procedures

• Order of shut down in the event of an emergency:
  • Throttle.
  • Fuel.
  • Battery.
  • Brake (Rotor).

Night Vision Goggles

• Enhance operational safety and situation awareness.
• Increase ability to see obstructions.

CAMTS: Survival Standards

• The transport vehicle must be equipped with survival gear.
• Survival gear must have expiration dates.

Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT):

• 406 MHz.
• 121.5 MHz.

RADIO SYSTEMS

• Ultra-High Frequency: Lower range but penetrate barriers well.
• Very High Frequency: Longer range.
• Trunked systems (700, 800 mHz).

SURFACE OPERATIONS

Ambulance Standards

• Must meet KKK 1822 standards or state licensure requirements.
• Adequate interior lighting.
• Capability of shielding cab from light.
• Climate between 68º and 78º.
• Fuel capacity no less than 175 miles.
• Ground clearance of at least 6” from ground.
• Able to perform at temps from –30ºF to 122ºF.

Lights and Sirens

• Must be equipped with a siren.
• Must have at least one light capable of displaying a red light.

Road Hazards/Mechanical Failure

• Must be minimally equipped with:
  • Flashlight.
  • Road marking device.
  • Tools.
  • Leather gloves.
  • Reflective vests.
  • Equipment with dealing with snow.

Communications Equipment

• Radio frequencies must adhere to state EMS radio communication plans.
• Must have a PA-system with output of 45 watts.
• There must be means of communication other than a cell phone.

CAMTS Radio Standards

• Radio transmissions must be able to transmit to/from:
  • Medical direction.
  • Communication center.
  • Air traffic control and other aircraft.

Inclement Weather Policy

• There must be a written policy.

No More “Ambulance Drivers”

• The driver must be at a minimum certified as an EMT.
• The driver must have 2 years of experience.
• The driver must have completed defensive driving.
• There must be a “co-pilot”.

Maintenance Standards

• Preventative maintenance program required.
• There must be no evidence of damage penetrating the body.
• The interior must be kept clean.

Questions

• You have sustained a hard landing and the pilot is unconscious. What is the best course of action to take?