A-09-106
NTSB Safety Recommendation — Aviation
Recommendation text
TO THE CENTERS FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID (UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES): Develop minimum safety accreditation standards for helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) operators that augment the operating standards of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 by including, for all flights with medical personnel on board, (a) scenario-based pilot training, (b) implementation of preflight risk evaluation programs, (c) formalized flight and dispatch procedures, (d) safety management systems, and (e) the installation of Federal Aviation Administration-approved terrain awareness warning systems, night vision imaging systems, flight data recording systems for monitoring, and autopilots if a second pilot is not used.
In plain language (FlightFinder summary)
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is asked to develop minimum safety accreditation standards for helicopter emergency medical services operators. These standards would augment existing Part 135 regulations by requiring scenario-based pilot training, preflight risk evaluation, formalized flight and dispatch procedures, safety management systems, and installation of specific safety equipment like terrain awareness warning systems, night vision imaging systems, flight data recording systems, and autopilots when a second pilot is not used.
This plain-language summary is written by FlightFinder to explain the recommendation above. It is not the official wording — the verbatim NTSB text is quoted above.
Details
| Status | Closed - Reconsidered |
|---|---|
| Mode | Aviation |
| Closed | Apr 23, 2014 |
| NTSB number | DCA09SH001 |
| Addressees | United States Department of Health and Human Services |
External links
NTSB safety recommendations are advisory; addressees are not legally required to adopt them. Source: NTSB CAROL (public domain).