RE: Response times and safety

["Ed" <emacdonald@satx.rr.com>]

I fully agree with Paul's assessment here.  I have seen "response times" in
the early days that were accomplished with speed as the prime ingredient. We
had TWO minute launch times flying MEDEVAC hueys. I have seen hurried pilots
start aircraft with tiedowns still attached to rotor blades, shore power
cords dangling from departing aircraft and a myriad of other proper
preflight planning requirements missed or ignored. I have seen pilots, who
failed to check weather in their rush, turn around in weather that was
clearly predictable and existing well below minimums.

In a recent survey conducted by NEMSPA and HAI, over twenty-five percent of
pilots surveyed said that they felt pressure from management, and fellow
flight crew members to hurry.  With our enlightened safety awareness in the
last few years...I find that high a response percentage disturbing.
Pressure can be subtle, covert, or overt...ask your pilots in  quiet moments
if they ever feel pressured by any particular crew member or manager.
Competition is also a clear pressure on programs to be there "firstest with
the mostest"  Some pilots self inflict hurried launch times cause they like
the status of being "quickest".  Speed here is a drug of choice to the
adrenalin junkies out there (most of us by-the-way).

If you want a good standard to gauge flight crews for response times: I
would recommend that pilots and crews hang out wherever they normally would
(cafeteria, quarters, ED,etc.) and WALK through a few test launch scenarios
trying to duplicate everything that would occur on a real mission and time
it with different pilots and crews. Make sure your timer accurately tracks
each step from the first call-- to dispatch-- to skids off the ground. Make
sure that all walk arounds, flight planning and checklists are accomplished
and establish a perfect-weather-no-complications mean as your standard.
That should give you a good QA point to streamline your system.

Give your crews full permission to omit any necessary steps-- if the Migs
are rolling in on your base. Our mommies' and lifeguards didn't want us
running at poolside for a good reason...

Be safe all,

Ed MacDonald
San Antonio

-----Original Message-----
From: flightmed-admin@flightweb.com
[mailto:flightmed-admin@flightweb.com]On Behalf Of Paul M. Wright, Jr.
Sent: Monday, January 07, 2002 1:06 PM
To: flightmed@flightweb.com
Subject: RE: Response times and safety


I don't have a firmly entrenched opinion on the topic of response times
versus safety in the air medical arena, but similar issues have arisen in
other industries.

Now I don't want anyone thinking I'm comparing the professionalism of flight
crews with those of pizza delivery folks, but Domino's Pizza lost a number
of high-dollar lawsuits a couple years ago and the cases were built around a
theory that Domino's thirty-minute delivery guarantee was causing their
delivery folks to use poor judgement in operating their vehicles and
accidents resulted.

Generally, I think air medical crews have the wisdom and experience to
operate safely even in an environment where response time is king.  However,
over the years I've seen enough safety lapses as people run towards the
aircraft in a rush to get off the ground that I think there is reason to be
concerned.

Any program I've been associated with has had some sort of response time
expectation and flights for which the response time falls outside the limit
are flagged for review.  Typical expected liftoff times for fully staffed
aircraft have been around 7 minutes for rotor-wing or 30 minutes for
fixed-wing.

I think the key is what happens when the flights are reviewed.  If the
review is handled in a professional and positive manner within a QA context
and with a view towards identifying operational factors that might be
addressed, it represents no threat to safety.

On the other hand, if the review occurs within the context of a personnel
performance review or otherwise threatens job security, I think it can be a
detriment to safety.


regards!

paul

Paul M. Wright, Jr.
Mesa, AZ



> -----Original Message-----
> From: flightmed-admin@flightweb.com
> [mailto:flightmed-admin@flightweb.com]On Behalf Of Snow, Mona G
> Sent: Monday, January 07, 2002 9:10 AM
> To: 'flightmed@flightweb.com'
> Subject: Response times and safety
>
>
> It is my understanding that "they", whomever they might be, are looking at
> response times for helos in regards to safety issues. I have heard that
> having response times to adhere to is causing safety concerns. I couldn't
> find any research on this and was wondering if anyone had any information.
> Also, do the other programs have policies on response times (both
> scene and
> interfacility) that they are willing to share. Anyone's thoughts/opinions
> are welcome.
> Thanks you,
> M. Snow
> Pegasus Flight Operations
>
> _______________________________________________
> Flightmed mailing list


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