Night Helicopter EMS (HEMS) Operations Safety

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Night Helicopter EMS (HEMS) Operations Safety

• Paul M. Schaaf, Chief Pilot
• Fairfax County Police Helicopter Division

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• Excerpt from FAA NOTICE N 8000.301
• A preliminary review of the commercial HEMS
  accidents from January 1998 through December 2004
  revealed that
• CONTROLLED FLIGHT INTO TERRAIN (CFIT),
• INADVERTENT FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT
  METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC), AND
• LACK OF OPERATIONAL CONTROL
• are predominant factors, particularly at night
  and during low visibility conditions.

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Excerpt from FAA NOTICE N 8000.301 Continued Of
the 27 fatal HEMS accidents, 21 occurred during
night operations. Of the 21 night accidents, 16
of the operations originated under visual flight
rules (VFR) the pilots inadvertently flew into
IMC conditions, resulting in a CFIT accident.
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Three Steps to Safety

• Break the VFR/IFR wall
• Train, Equip and Change the Culture
• Change standard vertical flight profiles
• Acceptance and deployment of Night Vision Goggles
  

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1- Breaking the VFR/IFR Wall

• Accepting Reality
• Unpredictable and unknown flight conditions will
  remain a factor in HEMS missions.
• HEMS pilots will continue to accept VFR missions
  that cannot be completed safely in VMC.
• Dealing with Reality
• VFR HEMS pilots must be capable and confident in
  IMC.
• VFR HEMS operators must equip helicopters for
  inadvertent IMC and train pilots accordingly.
• Pilots must unhesitatingly fly their companys
  IMC recovery plan when necessary without fear of
  reprimand.

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1- Breaking the VFR/IFR WallTrain, Equip and
Change the Culture

• Train for IMC
• Conduct Instrument Proficiency Checks every six
  months utilizing 2/2/20 aircraft control
  standards
• Require pilots to perform routine instrument
  approaches for procedural proficiency

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2, 2 and 20 Maneuver

• Maintain straight-and-level flight heading
  within 2 degrees, airspeed within 2 knots and
  altitude within 20 feet (for at least 2 minutes).
• In visual conditions no view limiting device
  required

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1- Breaking the VFR/IFR WallTrain, Equip and
Change the Culture

• Equip Aircraft for IMC
• Ensure aircraft and have basic instruments,
  communication and navigation radios and MELs
  written accordingly
• Consider installation of hand-held GPS system
  with terrain, obstacles and GPS driven flight
  instruments

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1- Breaking the VFR/IFR WallTrain, Equip and
Change the Culture

• Change the Culture of IMC Fear
• Place emphasis on instrument flying as a core
  pilot skill especially VFR-only operators.
• Issue an appropriate policy statement supporting
  pilots that reject low altitude scud-running
  and elect safer emergency IFR alternatives.

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2- Change Vertical Profiles

• Establish night time vertical take-off to at
  least 100 feet AGL when OGE performance is
  available
• Establish night time 1,000 foot AGL minimum
  enroute

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3- Night Vision Goggles

• NVGs are a safety enhancement that will reduce
  CFIT incidents and night time inadvertent IMC.
• Make possible the performance of certain night
  time operations resulting in increased
  productivity and revenue

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3- Night Vision Goggles

• Significant improvements in last decade
• Acuity increased
• Halo effect reduced
• Adaptability to bright and changing light
  conditions
• Aircraft exterior lighting changes are not
  necessary (search light, landing lights, etc)
• STC standards for cockpit lighting are based on
  older generation goggles and should be reviewed
  a totally NVG compatible cockpit is no longer
  necessary!

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Summary

• HEMS pilots should be encouraged to develop and
  maintain their instrument flying as a core pilot
  skill.
• Helicopters flying HEMS missions at night must be
  equipped for emergency IMC.
• Our culture and standards should discourage
  low-level scud-running over safer, well thought
  out alternatives.
• Helicopter pilots should fly higher especially
  at night.
• NVGs should be used by all HEMS operators working
  at night.
• Aviation authorities should work to facilitate
  this goal by re-evaluating standards for
  certification and addition to Part 135 operations
  specifications.

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Thank you!
Please contact me with questions via email
atPaul.schaaf_at_fairfaxcounty.gov