AirMed implements MCC operations across entire fleet
AirMed has become the first dedicated air ambulance operator of single pilot fixed wing aircraft in the UK to gain approval for and implement multi-crew operations.

A company decision was made in 2013 to operate their fleet of Piper Cheyenne IIIA turboprops under an MCC approval and standard operating procedures. The transition process has been completed explains Jane Topliss, Director of Business Development;

“Following comprehensive risk assessments and a growing number of requests from our clients, AirMed took the decision in Spring 2013 to apply for an MCC approval on the turboprop fleet. Safety is absolutely paramount in our operations and with the added complexities associated with air ambulance transfers we felt that the only appropriate decision was to become a multi-crew operator across all of our aircraft types.”

Seeking approval hasn’t been an easy process describes Richard Napper, Director of Flight Operations; “in order to become a multi-crew operator we needed to make changes to our Air Training Organisation (ATO) approval to incorporate multi pilot training instead of single pilot (SP). This was in conjunction with writing and getting approval for the new MCC Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and ensuring that our existing SP instructors and examiners obtained licenses to provide multi-pilot training. It has taken a considerable amount of time and effort from our team however everything is now in place and we believe we are a much safer air ambulance operation because of these changes.”

The use of two flight crew is fairly common on single pilot aircraft, including Kingair Beech 200’s, however experience has highlighted to AirMed that this unintegrated approach is not as safe or as efficient as a true multi-crew operation. “We have been operating 2 Learjet 35As now for several years and this of course has to be under MCC conditions” explains Richard Napper “the benefits garnered from having 2 pilots working as a fully integrated and trained team with specific roles through all phases of flight, including preparation, is extremely clear and mistakes and omissions are very rare. However putting 2 pilots together who don’t have clearly defined roles can, on occasion, lead to confusion.”

AirMed strongly believes that multi-crew operations should become the requirement for all fixed wing air ambulance operations due to the potential additional workload placed on crew members throughout the transfer.

“Our clients are thrilled that we have made the decision to go down this route” concludes Jane Topliss “We truly feel that we are a safer operation because of it and can deliver a much better service to our patients.”

BlueSky Business Aviation News | 18th September 2014 | Issue #288
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