FPC
Sterile Cockpit - Answers -Only essential communication during all phases of flight
except straight and level flight
• Critical phases of flight:
• Takeoff
• Landing (short final)
• Refueling
• Taxi (ground or air)
Flight Following - Answers -• 15 minute flying, 45 minute sitting on the ground
• Emergency action plan activated 15 minutes after failing to report in
Protective Clothing and Dress Code - Answers -• Flame retardant clothing (flight suit) -
must be able to pull 1⁄4" away from body
• Reflective material or striping on uniforms for night operations
• High-visibility reflective vests or appropriate DOT- approved clothing worn by flight and
ambulance crews in accordance with ANSI-SEA 107
• Boots or sturdy footwear
• Flame-retardant clothing
• Appropriate outerwear pertinent to survival in the environment
• Must wear appropriately fitted helmets (rotorwing)
Rotary Wing Pilot in Command Qualifications - Answers -2,000 hours total flight time
1,200 hours in a helicopter
1,000 hours as a PIC
100 hours as PIC at night
MUST BE INSTRUMENT RATED (for flying IFR in IMC)
Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate is strongly
encouraged (not required)
• Area orientation- 5 hours total w/ 2 at night (completed before solo mission
acceptance)
Fixed Wing Pilot in Command Qualifications - Answers -• 2,000 hours total flight time
• 1,000 hours as PIC
• 100 hours at night as PIC
• Must possess an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate • Must be instrument rated
• Fixed wing MUST file IFR and VFR Flight Plans
Rotorwing Mechanic Qualifications - Answers -Two years rotorcraft experience as
certified airframe and powerplant mechanics
Qualified for Air Medical aircraft
Must be permanently assigned to each aircraft
,Helicopters operating at density altitude of 5000 feet and above must have higher lift
capabilities
Written policy for "add-on" equipment for weights and balances
FAA Rules - Answers -• FAR Part 91- Applies to everyone (general FAA rules)
• No duty day
• No weather minimums (PIC assumes risk)
• FAR Part 135- Flying passengers for $ (taxi services)
• Max 14 hour duty day
• 8 hours total flying time
• 8 hours "bottle to throttle" (drinking alcohol)
Transport Distances - Answers -Cross Country Flights
• Outside of the local flying area
• No mileage designations
Long Range Fixed Wing Transports
• Exceeds 3 hours
• Measured in time not hours
Weather Minimums - Answers -•Marginal weather: weather that is very close to or at
minimums (can fly, but accepting risk)
Below minimums: weather that is UNDER weather minimums (can't fly)
• If bad weather is encountered while in route, divert to nearest facility!
• #1 cause of crashes is weather (#2 is night flight)
Flight Rules - Answers -• Visual Flight Rules (VFR)
This means that the weather conditions that you can see where you are flying
• Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC)• There is NO intended instrument flying under
these
rules
Instrument Flight Rules (IFR)
This means that the weather conditions do not allow safe flight by sight alone, and the
pilot must be able to use his/her instruments to fly
Inadvertant Instrument Meteorlogical Conditions (IIMC): This means that the pilot began
flying in VFR weather and unexpectantly encountered weather that required flying by
instruments.
• Referred to as "Double IMC"
Hasty or an Unsecured HLZ - Answers -(Point of injury)
Must have communication with the ground
HLZ large enough to land (generally 100' x 100')
1 approach and departure heading
,2 passes required prior to landing (to look for hazards on the HLZ)
• One high pass, one low pass
If at night, have two vehicles cross the beams of their headlights to mark the HLZ
Permanent Helipad - Answers -(Hospital)
• Must have 2 approach and departure headings
• Perimeter lights on the helipad
• Landing beacon
• Windsock
Helipads - Answers -Fuel Systems
• Maintained and operated by the aviation certificate holder
• Written policies of who has responsibility for fuel quality checks
• At least 25 feet from hangers
• Fire protection equipment• Class B/C fire extinguisher within 75 feet
• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved
Oxygen storage:
• 10 feet from open flame
• 20 feet from combustibles
• Well ventilated
• No smoking signs in accordance with national regulations
In-Flight Emergencies - Answers -Land immediately
• Engine failure/fire/RPG in your tail boom
Land as soon as possible
• Low transmission pressure/chip light
Land as soon as practical
• Go to closest convenient place to "check something emergent out"
Pre-Crash Sequence - Answers -• Lay the patient flat
• Turn off any oxygen
• Assume the crash position
• Seat belt secured
• Sit up straight (seats are designed to absorb impact)
• Helmet strap tight/visor down
• Knees together, feet 6" apart, flat on the floor
• Not underneath the seat, they will get broken.
• Arms crossed on chest
• Chin to chest
Post-Crash Sequence - Answers -Turn off in order:
• Throttle, Fuel, and Battery (don't actually touch the battery though)
• Exit the aircraft (assist anyone who needs assistance) • Survival Bag
, • Assemble at the 12 o'clock position
• Begin building a shelter, build a fire, gather water,
create a signal (shelter is the first priority)
• (This is not the same as military survival priorities)
Crash Procedures - Answers -Every recovery procedures specific to aircraft make and
model must minimally include:
• Location of fuel tanks
• Oxygen shut offs in cockpit and cabin
• Emergency egress procedures
• Aircraft battery
• Emergency shut down procedures
Emergency Locator Transmitter - Answers -(ELT)
• Self-activates during crash sequence at 4Gs
• Can be manually activated
• Transmit frequency is 121.5 MHz
• Upgraded transmit frequency is 406 MHz
• The ELT is what generates the constant, repeating alarm over your headset when you
get near a crash site to perform a rescue
Team Member Training - Answers -• Single aircraft / 24 hours
• Minimum of 4 pilots• Fewer on temporary basis, no more than 6 months
• Required IMC/IFR recovery procedures every 6 months
• National Disaster Response service
• Line Staff - FEMA Independent classes on Incident Command - 100, 200, 700 and 800
• Management - 800
Water Egress Survival Training - Answers -Hazards to aircraft and personnel during
overwater operations
• Pre-ditching
• Considerations and procedures• Emergency procedures and evacuation
• Upright emergency evacuation• Surface water survival and rescue water skills
• Fixed wing should provide inflatable raft training
Emergency 3's - Answers -• 3 minutes without oxygen
• 3 hours without shelter
• 3 days without water
• 3 weeks without food
EMTALA - Answers -• You must act if someone requires emergency care to sustain life
or is actively giving birth
• "150 Yard Rule"- if someone is injured within 150 yards of a hospital, they must be
treated
• Sending physician is responsible for the patient until they arrive at next facility
Sterile Cockpit - Answers -Only essential communication during all phases of flight
except straight and level flight
• Critical phases of flight:
• Takeoff
• Landing (short final)
• Refueling
• Taxi (ground or air)
Flight Following - Answers -• 15 minute flying, 45 minute sitting on the ground
• Emergency action plan activated 15 minutes after failing to report in
Protective Clothing and Dress Code - Answers -• Flame retardant clothing (flight suit) -
must be able to pull 1⁄4" away from body
• Reflective material or striping on uniforms for night operations
• High-visibility reflective vests or appropriate DOT- approved clothing worn by flight and
ambulance crews in accordance with ANSI-SEA 107
• Boots or sturdy footwear
• Flame-retardant clothing
• Appropriate outerwear pertinent to survival in the environment
• Must wear appropriately fitted helmets (rotorwing)
Rotary Wing Pilot in Command Qualifications - Answers -2,000 hours total flight time
1,200 hours in a helicopter
1,000 hours as a PIC
100 hours as PIC at night
MUST BE INSTRUMENT RATED (for flying IFR in IMC)
Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate is strongly
encouraged (not required)
• Area orientation- 5 hours total w/ 2 at night (completed before solo mission
acceptance)
Fixed Wing Pilot in Command Qualifications - Answers -• 2,000 hours total flight time
• 1,000 hours as PIC
• 100 hours at night as PIC
• Must possess an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate • Must be instrument rated
• Fixed wing MUST file IFR and VFR Flight Plans
Rotorwing Mechanic Qualifications - Answers -Two years rotorcraft experience as
certified airframe and powerplant mechanics
Qualified for Air Medical aircraft
Must be permanently assigned to each aircraft
,Helicopters operating at density altitude of 5000 feet and above must have higher lift
capabilities
Written policy for "add-on" equipment for weights and balances
FAA Rules - Answers -• FAR Part 91- Applies to everyone (general FAA rules)
• No duty day
• No weather minimums (PIC assumes risk)
• FAR Part 135- Flying passengers for $ (taxi services)
• Max 14 hour duty day
• 8 hours total flying time
• 8 hours "bottle to throttle" (drinking alcohol)
Transport Distances - Answers -Cross Country Flights
• Outside of the local flying area
• No mileage designations
Long Range Fixed Wing Transports
• Exceeds 3 hours
• Measured in time not hours
Weather Minimums - Answers -•Marginal weather: weather that is very close to or at
minimums (can fly, but accepting risk)
Below minimums: weather that is UNDER weather minimums (can't fly)
• If bad weather is encountered while in route, divert to nearest facility!
• #1 cause of crashes is weather (#2 is night flight)
Flight Rules - Answers -• Visual Flight Rules (VFR)
This means that the weather conditions that you can see where you are flying
• Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC)• There is NO intended instrument flying under
these
rules
Instrument Flight Rules (IFR)
This means that the weather conditions do not allow safe flight by sight alone, and the
pilot must be able to use his/her instruments to fly
Inadvertant Instrument Meteorlogical Conditions (IIMC): This means that the pilot began
flying in VFR weather and unexpectantly encountered weather that required flying by
instruments.
• Referred to as "Double IMC"
Hasty or an Unsecured HLZ - Answers -(Point of injury)
Must have communication with the ground
HLZ large enough to land (generally 100' x 100')
1 approach and departure heading
,2 passes required prior to landing (to look for hazards on the HLZ)
• One high pass, one low pass
If at night, have two vehicles cross the beams of their headlights to mark the HLZ
Permanent Helipad - Answers -(Hospital)
• Must have 2 approach and departure headings
• Perimeter lights on the helipad
• Landing beacon
• Windsock
Helipads - Answers -Fuel Systems
• Maintained and operated by the aviation certificate holder
• Written policies of who has responsibility for fuel quality checks
• At least 25 feet from hangers
• Fire protection equipment• Class B/C fire extinguisher within 75 feet
• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved
Oxygen storage:
• 10 feet from open flame
• 20 feet from combustibles
• Well ventilated
• No smoking signs in accordance with national regulations
In-Flight Emergencies - Answers -Land immediately
• Engine failure/fire/RPG in your tail boom
Land as soon as possible
• Low transmission pressure/chip light
Land as soon as practical
• Go to closest convenient place to "check something emergent out"
Pre-Crash Sequence - Answers -• Lay the patient flat
• Turn off any oxygen
• Assume the crash position
• Seat belt secured
• Sit up straight (seats are designed to absorb impact)
• Helmet strap tight/visor down
• Knees together, feet 6" apart, flat on the floor
• Not underneath the seat, they will get broken.
• Arms crossed on chest
• Chin to chest
Post-Crash Sequence - Answers -Turn off in order:
• Throttle, Fuel, and Battery (don't actually touch the battery though)
• Exit the aircraft (assist anyone who needs assistance) • Survival Bag
, • Assemble at the 12 o'clock position
• Begin building a shelter, build a fire, gather water,
create a signal (shelter is the first priority)
• (This is not the same as military survival priorities)
Crash Procedures - Answers -Every recovery procedures specific to aircraft make and
model must minimally include:
• Location of fuel tanks
• Oxygen shut offs in cockpit and cabin
• Emergency egress procedures
• Aircraft battery
• Emergency shut down procedures
Emergency Locator Transmitter - Answers -(ELT)
• Self-activates during crash sequence at 4Gs
• Can be manually activated
• Transmit frequency is 121.5 MHz
• Upgraded transmit frequency is 406 MHz
• The ELT is what generates the constant, repeating alarm over your headset when you
get near a crash site to perform a rescue
Team Member Training - Answers -• Single aircraft / 24 hours
• Minimum of 4 pilots• Fewer on temporary basis, no more than 6 months
• Required IMC/IFR recovery procedures every 6 months
• National Disaster Response service
• Line Staff - FEMA Independent classes on Incident Command - 100, 200, 700 and 800
• Management - 800
Water Egress Survival Training - Answers -Hazards to aircraft and personnel during
overwater operations
• Pre-ditching
• Considerations and procedures• Emergency procedures and evacuation
• Upright emergency evacuation• Surface water survival and rescue water skills
• Fixed wing should provide inflatable raft training
Emergency 3's - Answers -• 3 minutes without oxygen
• 3 hours without shelter
• 3 days without water
• 3 weeks without food
EMTALA - Answers -• You must act if someone requires emergency care to sustain life
or is actively giving birth
• "150 Yard Rule"- if someone is injured within 150 yards of a hospital, they must be
treated
• Sending physician is responsible for the patient until they arrive at next facility
