Recommended Practice(Final) Regional Safety Roundtables May 10, 2001   In many areas of the country multiple EMS helicopter or public safety providers operate into and out of common health care facilities. In some cities receiving hospitals are busy hubs of helicopter activity accepting flights on a regular basis from as many as four or five separate flight programs. Referring hospitals or agencies on scene calls may have multiple patients for transport and request helicopters from competing organizations to respond simultaneously to helipads or Landing Zones with limited space and minimal controlling agencies.   In addition to the obvious potential for safety hazards when multiple aircraft use common airspace and landing areas, competition among programs can cause competition among managers to capture maximum flight numbers. These practices may result in requests or actions which raise our common risk.   Because the potential for safety hazards among competitors are more common at a local level, solutions are best sought at the local level as well. After discussion of these issues at its May 10, 2001 meeting in Dallas Texas, The Air Medical Safety Advisory Council decided upon the following Recommended Practice for the Air Medical community:   In any area throughout the country where more than one Helicopter EMS provider operates potentially in competition with others, Regional Safety Roundtables should be established. Such Safety Round Tables should be convened at least quarterly or as frequently as the participants deem necessary. Appropriate aviation representatives for all the operators in the area should attend regularly and the meetings should be open to all interested parties involved in the local helicopter community. These Safety Roundtables should discuss and agree upon the safest practices for helicopter operations in their local flying area with special emphasis on emergency scene or hospital operations, communications and multiple aircraft scene protocols.   Recommended Practices are published under the direction of the Air Medical Safety Advisory Council (AMSAC). RPs are a medium for discussion of aviation and medical operational safety pertinent to the Air Medical Community. RPs are not intended to replace corporate judgment, Federal Aviation Regulations, Company Operations Manuals, or Organizational SOPs. Suggestions for subject matter are cordially invited.   back