Rethinking the Safety of Medical Helicopters

Friday, July 26, 2013 at 05:22 PM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Despite a high-profile spike in fatal EMS helicopter crashes in 2008, the overall accident rate for air ambulance operations has steadily declined over 30 years and is statistically safer per flight hour than many other types of helicopter flying.
Public perception of EMS helicopter danger is often distorted by the catastrophic nature and high media visibility of individual crashes, which frequently occur in challenging conditions like night, poor visibility, or unprepared landing sites.
The industry and regulators are actively implementing extensive safety improvements, including advanced cockpit technology, enhanced pilot training, risk management programs, and new regulations to further reduce accidents.