Military vs Civilian

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  1. Member of the flight crew or not?

    • 3
      Trained and maintain qualifications related to the Airframe you fly.
    • 0
      Responsible for Medicine only.
    • 4
      Help is accepted, but not required or expected by the pilot.

7 members have participated

It's my understanding that, unlike in the military, civilian flight personal are basically passengers when it comes to flight crew duties...the pilot shoulders the entire the responsibility for flight management and safety. Is that the case, for the most part? And if so, I don't understand why civilian air med hasn't adopted the military model.

There are a frightening number of air med crashes, and from my standpoint in Army aviation, with backseaters being taught aircraft systems, flight protocols, emergency procedures, and sharing responsibility for airspace management/maintenance, the process has averted numerous military crashes. I have personally benefited from this model of risk mitigation.

I hope I don't offend anyone with the question. I've been curious ever since my Platoon Sergeant described taking a nap until they arrive on scene, then going to work.

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Specializes in HEMS (SICU,CICU,BICU,MICU,ER,Trauma).

Hi.. I can appreciate your question and I can unequivocally refute that claim.. As civilian EMS flight crew we are not only encouraged but required to share the responsibility for safety in ALL flight operations.. We have both standardized systems designed, in part, to emphasize safety, such as AMRAM (Air Medical Resources) and CRM (Crew Resource Mgt.), FAA standard safety guidelines, and corporate safety bulletins, AMSAC, and continuous training with the pilots and crew. We train and routinely use NVG's, we're drilled on emergency procedures, and taught how to read approach plates in the co-pilot seat for IFR flights. Additionally, our aircraft are equipped with TCAS and other avoidance systems. We are required, as flight crew, to assist in pre-flight safety checks with detailed walk-arounds before lift-off as well as helping the pilot during critical phases of flight such as take-off and landing. Communication is stressed and this is a "no exceptions" policy/practice.. There are many more resources and training designed to support a solid safety culture and it is taken very seriously by all crew members.

As you know, it takes ALL crew members to contribute to a safe flight and we're definitively on board with that idea! Of course, we don't have the added stress of having to avoid anti-aircraft gunnery like you guys.. Don't worry about offending anyone.. I think it's a really great question yet I can only speak for my particular organization.

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Hi.. I can appreciate your question and I can unequivocally refute that claim.. As civilian EMS flight crew we are not only encouraged but required to share the responsibility for safety in ALL flight operations....

That I could see being a part of...I wouldn't want to fly under any other circumstances. Thanks for replying. NVGs rock...I hated driving after using them on a night flight: it felt like I had my eyes closed the whole time.

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Specializes in Trauma 4yr Flight 8mn.

Ditto to fltrn70..the same in my program. Also throwing into consideration scene safety. For the majority of scene flights we stay running meaning the pilot stays inside. Exterior safety, crowds, police, fire and any other idiot who tries to run into the tail rotor is our responsibility since the pilots are inside. If we feel the scene is too uncontrolled or chaotic we can radio for a shut down on our decision.

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...and any other idiot who tries to run into the tail rotor is our responsibility since the pilots are inside. If we feel the scene is too uncontrolled or chaotic we can radio for a shut down on our decision.

Yep...shutting down wasn't an option for us, so we had 75' of ICS cord, and the full authority to body tackle anyone (man, woman, child, officer, general, anyone) who runs into our disk, and don't obey the visual command to Back Up>>

And with the 50+ lbs of gear we wear, once we're up to speed, we hit with quite an impact. ;)

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