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Editor: James T. Crouse
Profession: Aviation Accident Attorney

Category: Helicopter Crashes

In the last 10 years, 75 doctors, nurses, pilots, and patients have lost their lives as they risk their lives to get patients the medical help they need by transporting them to the nearest hospital from the scene if an accident or by transporting them to a more "needs appropriate" medical center.

This reality was brought home last week when a University of Madison (WI) Med Flight crew was killed when their helicopter crashed shortly after takeoff after transporting a patient from UW-Madison to another hospital. The crew had flown through a rainy night to make the trip - it is not known at this time if weather was a factor in the crash. Med Flights will be grounded until the FAA clears the remaining helicopter, which could affect some of the most critical patients.

According to the NTSB, this particular helicopter did not have two pieces of safety technology the agency has recommended to prevent crashes. The chopper was not equipped with a computerized voice system to warn of approaching terrain or night vision goggles for the pilot, according to a senior vice president at Denver-based Air Methods who leased the helicopter to the UW hospital. These recommendations were made in a 2006 report which came after the agency noted an increasing number of crashes involving medical helicopters and planes. The report suggested many fatal EMS flights could be prevented with the use of these two pieces of equipment - Federal regulators have not made these devices a requirement, but have encouraged voluntary installation by companies.

So we ask why aren't they used if they will increase safety and save lives? Frieda is absolutely sure she doesn't want to be on a live-saving medical flight only to be killed in a crash that could have been prevented if the proper equipment had been used. Part of the problem is the shortage of night vision goggles for non military use. OK, Frieda understands that one. Well, what about the Terrain Awareness and Warning Systems? It seems there's a long wait for the equipment and once installed, the crews have to be trained. Frieda believes these obstacles can be overcome if there was a sincere desire to do so and a real commitment to safety for these courageous men and women. According to CEO Aaron Todd of Air Methods:

He said he couldn't say whether the technology, which costs about $100,000 to install on each craft, could have prevented the crash.

Frieda's willing to bet the crew of the UW medical helicopter and their families would sure like to have had the chance to find out.