I read the forum, although I do not subscribe, therefore I am limited to
private reply.
I will leave my opinion out on the issue of competition in the areas that
Air Evac occupies. There is good argument for competition, so there is
something else I think we need to focus on;
SAFETY.
Air Evac has been attributed to at least five deaths, including a
untrained person whom they had working around a running helo. It was a
security guard who was moving an EPU; he walked into the tail rotor.
Several more providers have been seriously injured in accidents. They
are not CAAMTS accredited, and all their aircraft are single engine. You
can't fly if that engine quits, unlike a dual engine aircraft which is
used by nearly all their competitors.
Yes, Air Evac is providing challenging competition, but it is in exchange
for safety and the appearance of flight medicine. Their aircraft have
been seen with duct tape on them, bungee cords holding doors on, and in
general poor appearance and repair. They make us all look bad.
They have campaigned and gained approval via flowery lip service and
broken promises, to move into service areas already being served by other
programs (they weren't invited by anyone, which I think makes a
difference), and then they failed to follow through (see Wichita),
allegedly being relocated to Oklahoma.
Don't get me wrong, I believe there are good people that work there.
However, they can only be as good as the company will provide. They
advertise for 2000 hour pilots, but it has been said that they are known
to hire pilots with far less than the minimums. Again, speculative.
I do not live in an area affected by Air Evac or near their service area,
but I have been involved in flight medicine for a while and I do know how
the company appears to me and many of my colleagues.
You might find them to be a great place. Hope this is helpful.
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