NTSB TO HOLD 3-DAY PUBLIC HEARING ON EMS OPERATIONS

[NTSB Press Releases <NTSBPressReleases@xxxxxxxx>]

Title: NTSB TO HOLD 3-DAY PUBLIC HEARING ON EMS OPERATIONS

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                      NTSB PRESS RELEASE
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National Transportation Safety Board
Washington, DC 20594

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 10, 2008
SB-08-52

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NTSB TO HOLD 3-DAY PUBLIC HEARING ON EMS OPERATIONS

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Washington, DC - The National Transportation Safety Board
will hold a public hearing on the safety of Helicopter
Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) operations. The three-day
hearing will begin on February 3, 2009, at the NTSB's Board
Room and Conference Center, 429 L'Enfant Plaza, S.W.,
Washington, D.C.

Helicopter EMS operations provide an important service to
the public by transporting seriously ill patients or donor
organs to emergency care facilities. The pressure to safely
and quickly conduct these operations in various
environmental conditions (for example, inclement weather, at
night, and unfamiliar landing sites for helicopter
operations) has the potential to make HEMS operations more
at risk than normal passenger carrying operations.

"We have seen an alarming rise in the numbers of EMS
accidents and the Safety Board believes some of these
accidents could have been prevented if our recommendations
were implemented," said Member Robert Sumwalt, Chairman of
the Hearing.  "This hearing will be extremely important
because it can provide an opportunity to learn more about
the industry so that possibly we can make further
recommendations that can prevent these accidents and save
lives."

The NTSB issued a Special Investigation Report on EMS
Operations in January 2006.  The report involved the
analysis of all EMS-related aviation accidents that occurred
from January 2002 through January 2005. There were a total
of 55 accidents that occurred during this 3-year window; 41
helicopters and 14 airplanes.  These accidents killed 54
people, and seriously injured 19.  Analysis of the accidents
indicated that 29 of 55 accidents could have been prevented
with corrective actions identified in the report.

However, over the past 11 months the Safety Board has investigated
nine fatal EMS Accidents with a total of 35 fatalities.  In 2008
alone there have been 7 fatal accidents with 28 fatalities. This
is a drastic increase in accidents since the Special Investigation
Report and therefore has prompted the Safety Board to examine this
issue in greater detail by holding this hearing.

There will be witnesses from all EMS communities including pilots,
medical personnel, managers, and FAA.  The issues that will be
discussed during the hearing include:

    *   Operational Structure and Models
    *   Flight Operations
    *   Aircraft Safety Equipment
    *   Training
    *   Oversight

The hearing will be webcast. An agenda and webcast details will be
posted on the Board's website, http://www.ntsb.gov, when
available.

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Media Contact: Keith Holloway
                   202.314.6100
                   hollowk@xxxxxxxx

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