Rotorcraft Operations and Oversight

Rotorcraft Operations and Oversight Dennis McCall Director of Operations Air Methods Corporation 2015 AMERCA Flight Standards Meeting April 7-8, 2015 Tysons, Virginia USA

Are the dots moving?

Air Methods At A Glance Headquarters - Englewood, CO Nasdaq Symbol> AIRM World s Largest Air Medical Provider 1,200 Pilots, 4,700 Medical Staff 290 Bases in 48 States Sixth largest aircraft operating certificate in the US 400+ EMS Aircraft- Fixed & Rotor Wing 49 Tourism Aircraft 98,000+ critical care transports in 2014 137,000 Flight Hours Per Year

We operate in a demanding environment.

U.S. HAA Operations Provide an invaluable service to the public by providing crucial transportation of critically ill and injured patients. 805 Dedicated Aircraft (no other purpose) Transport 265,000 + Patients Per Year Estimated Total Patients Flown,1980-2012 5,600,000 Approximately 375,000 Flight Hours Per Year

U.S. HAA Operations Single Pilot Day/Night, VFR and IFR, Operations to Approved and Unimproved landing sites. Single and Twin Engine Helicopters Crew Composition Pilot, Nurse, Paramedic Public, Private and Hospital Systems Compete for Transports.

What does the DATA Show 1998 an alarming accident trend begins Eight (8) accidents in1998, ten (10) in 1999 and twelve (12) in 2000. Ira Blumen, the University of Chicago Aeromedical Network (UCAN) Safety Committee began its own investigation and research in the fall of 2000

What does the DATA Show First Definitive Study in HEMS Accidents Can be found here Supplement to the Air Medical Physician Handbook Only Dedicated Aircraft in Study Accident Factors: Pilot Error, Weather, IIMC, Night, Fatigue, Pressure and Stress U.S. Has Highest HAA Accident Rate compared to Other Countries

Ways to Mitigate Accidents Safety Management System (SMS) Operations Control Center (OCC) Technologies Simulation Standardized Training Regulation FAA-HAA Rule

Safety Management System SMS Level 4 Continuous Improvement

Operations Control Center s Staffed 24/7 Trained Specialists (similar to 121 dispatcher) Primary Duties Safety and support for pilots before and during all flights Shared Risk Model Compliance

Technologies Night Vision Goggles NVG Helicopter Terrain Avoidance Warning System HTAWS XM Satellite Weather GPS Navigation Satellite Tracking Appareo Vision 1000 flight data monitoring

Simulation

Training Threat and Error Management (TEM) Crew Resource Management (CRM) Air Medical Resource Management (AMRM) Line Orientated Flight Training (LOFT)

FAA-HAA Rule Changes All Flights with Medical Crew conducted as Part 135 HTAWS Radar Altimeters Flight Data Monitoring Operational Control Centers Preflight Risk Analysis Commercial Instrument Rating More restrictive VFR Weather Minimums Enhanced IFR Operations

Conclusion Safety First is a Call to Action Strong Organizational Safety Culture (SMS) Proactive Management that embraces a Just Culture Proper Aircraft, Tools, Facilities for Safe Operations

Conclusion Replace Risk Takers with Front Line Risk Managers Train Like you Fly and Fly Like you Train No Government, Country, Region or Organization Competes at Safety. Through Continued Collaboration and Sharing we will Strengthen and Sustain Safe Operations

Thank you AFRICA*MIDDLE EAST*RUSSIA*CENTRAL ASIA Thank you for Supporting Sustainable International Safety Standards.

Presentation Guidelines Presentation Guidelines Presentations should be no more than 10 slides No more than 15 minutes per presentation Please send all presentation materials to DOT.FAAeventsupport@sidemgroup.com Final presentations MUST be received by Friday, April 3 Please remember to bring a copy of your presentation to the conference on a USB drive

FAA Guidance on Helicopter & Air Ambulance Operations Richard Prosek Manager, Part 135 Air Carrier Operations Branch, AFS-250 2015 AMERCA Flight Standards Meeting April 7-8, 2015 Tysons, Virginia USA

Rotorcraft Policy & Guidance 14 CFR 135 Operations (Commuter and On-demand) AFS-250 Includes Helicopter Air Ambulance (HAA) and air tours All other commercial rotorcraft operations AFS-800 Part 91 (general aviation) Part 133 (external loads) Part 137 (agriculture)

Part 135 Oversight Principal Inspector (PI) responsible for oversight Current: FAA Notice 8900.132, Work Program Development for Part 135 Certificate Holders Incorporates the use of Surveillance Priority Index (SPI) tool Prioritizes work on the basis of risk factors Near future: Safety Assurance System (SAS) will replace the use of the SPI as operators transition to use of Safety Management Systems (SMS)

Rationale for New HAA Rule Between 1991 and 2010: OPERATIONS ACCIDENTS FATALITIES HAA 74 130 Rule Addresses 62 125 Commercial 29 54 Rule Addresses 20 39 Part 91 51 64 VFR 49 63 4

Causal Factors of Accidents Inadvertent Flight into IMC (IIMC) Night Operations Loss of Control Controlled Flight into Terrain 5

Helicopter Air Ambulance Rule New rule goes into effect April 22, 2015 How does the new rule affect the rotorcraft community? Part 91: Increased weather minimums in Class G airspace Part 135: Increased weather minimums for alternate airports Demonstrate competence in flat light, white out/brown out and inadvertent flight into instrument meteorological conditions (IIMC) Radio altimeter required (2017) Additional overwater equipment requirements (2017)

New Rule Continued Helicopter Air Ambulance (HAA) Operators: Increased Class G VFR weather minimums IFR ops at airports without weather reporting Transitions to/from IFR VFR obstacle planning Risk analysis program Safety briefings for medical personnel on board Operations Control Center (for operators with > 10 HAA) (2016) Affects 23 of 73 operators & all but ~200 HAA helicopters Pilot in Command requires instrument rating (2017) Helicopter Terrain Awareness and Warning System (HTAWS) (2017) Flight Data Monitoring System (FDMS) 2018)

Additional Oversight Mechanisms Certificate Management Teams (CMT) Established in 2005 Focused oversight of operators with > 25 helicopters dedicated to air ambulance operations Affects 11 of the 73 HAA operators and accounts for ~1200 of the ~1600 HAA helicopters

Guidance Information Revised Operations Specification A-021 Advisory Circular 135-14B, Helicopter Air Ambulance Operations FAA Notice 8900.1 Guidance Material Advisory Circular 120-96, Operations Control Centers Fall 2015

Resources Principal Inspector Federal Register Flight Standards Draft Document Web Site: https://www.faa.gov/aircraft/draft_docs/ Part 135 Air Carrier Ops Branch, AFS-250: 202.267.8166 http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices /avs/offices/afs/afs200/branches/afs250/

Helicopter Industry Overview Matt Zuccaro President & CEO Helicopter Association International 2015 AMERCA Flight Standards Meeting April 7-8, 2015 Tysons, Virginia USA

Helicopter Association International Established 1948 The professional trade association for the International helicopter community 3,900 members in 78 countries 91 Affiliate Members in 73 countries HAI Members operate over 6,000 helicopters and fly nearly 3 million hours each year

HAI Members Include Helicopter owners Operators Manufacturers & suppliers Service organizations Affiliate associations Pilots Maintenance Technicians Students People interested in the rotorcraft industry

HELI-EXPO World s Largest Helicopter Trade Show 21,000 Attendees 65 Helicopters on Display 750 Exhibitors One million square feet of exhibit floor and meetings Estimated 2.5 Billion U.S. dollars business by Exhibitors

Helicopter Association International Next Heli-Expo Trade Show Louisville March 2-5, 2016

WWW.ROTOR.COM ROTORNEWS (Free Daily E-Newsletter) 20 LANGUAGE TRANSLATION GOOGLE SEARCHABLE NUMEROUS DOWNLOADS

www.helicopterfoundation.or g

Helicopter Foundation Int l Virtual Museum Searchable database School Outreach Program Heritage interviews of industry pioneers Heritage Aircraft

Industry Issues Helicopter Ambulance Ops Regulation Next Gen Interagency Management Council Noise Abatement Community Relations Nat l Parks Overflight Advisory Group N.Y. C. / L. A. Airspace Task Force Foreign Repair Stations FAR Part 27 / 29 rewrite Single Engine / Single Pilot aircraft IFR Certification HUMS / FDM Grant Program Unmanned Aerial Systems

Regulatory Validation & Harmonization EASA FAA CAA ICAO Legislative driven Application of Air Carrier rules to part 135 and G.A. ops Safety level goal to unrealistic levels of potential failure Restrict or eliminate single engine operations Constraining certification both aircraft and mission (IFR) Lack of international certification and operating rules

Operational Protocols 1. Twin Engine Aircraft (customer / regulation / mission driven) Hover out of ground effect on one engine at gross takeoff weight OEI / CAT A CAPABILITIES ALL OPERATIONS Human Factors engine integration and operation Stable state automatic operation no pilot interface 2. Multi-mission capability (Tiltrotor Tech) 3. Range, Endurance, Useful load 4. Full IFR & Icing capability (Predicated on operating environment) 5. Ease of Maintenance (modular design) 6. Predictable operating costs

International Federation of Helicopter Associations International Civil Aviation Organization Heliport Design Working Group World Climate working group IFR Working Group Noise modeling Working Group Regulatory Harmonization FAA / EASA / ICAO

HAI Coordination National Business Aircraft Association Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association General Aviation Manufacturers Association National Air Transport Association National Association of State Aviation Officials Experimental Aircraft Association Aircraft Electronics Association Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems Int l Unmanned Aerial Systems Coalition

MILITARY INTERFACE Enhance liaison between HAI and U.S. military services Network relative to research, development, acquisition and sustainment of military rotorcraft platforms and related technologies. Major focus will be rotorcraft aviation safety and enhancement of operating environment. Promotion of noise abatement initiatives and community acceptance of rotorcraft operations. HAI to reach out to military personnel transition programs in an effort to assist separating military aviation personnel to transition into civilian careers.

HAI INTERNATIONAL PRESENCE AHS AIA/NZHA ALEA AMTC AOPA APA HAA Oshkosh EBACE ABACE HAC HeliRussia Helitech-UK NASAO NBAA Paris Air Show Sun N Fun Farnborough ILA Berlin AirMed HeliDubai ABRAPHE American Helicopter Society Forum AIA of New Zealand / New Zealand Helicopter Assoc Airborne Law Enforcement Association Air Medical Transport Conference Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association American Planning Association Helicopter Association of Australia Experimental Aircraft Association - HELI-CENTER European Business Aviation Exposition - Geneva Asian Business Aviation Exposition Shanghais Helicopter Association of Canada Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade - Moscow Helitech Duksford England National Association of State Aviation Officials National Business Aviation Association Le Bourget - Paris Lakeland, Florida Air show & Exposition, London Berlin Air show Air Medical Conference United Kingdom Trade Show & Exposition, Dubai, United Arab Emirates Brazilian Helicopter Association

AIRCRAFT CERTIFICATION Time delays Certification NOne Required Safety Enhancing Equipment Organization Designation Authorization Designated Engineering / Airworthiness Representatives Inconsistent Interpretation Part 27 and 29 revision

Where does the public get its perception of our industry? Press coverage of industry events Depictions in entertainment media Unfortunately these are usually negative depictions 2015 AMERCA Flight Standards Meeting April 7-8, 2015 Tysons, Virginia USA

TOPIC OF THE DAY FIRST PRIORITY ALWAYS 2015 AMERCA Flight Standards Meeting April 7-8, 2015 Tysons, Virginia USA

HAI SAFETY INITIATIVES SAFETY AS A FIRST PRIORITY SAFETY ABOVE ALL ELSE FLY TO A HIGHER STANDARD HUMAN FACTORS RISK ASSESSMENT DECISION MAKING

HAI SAFETY INITIATIVES HeliExpo Safety Symposium Safety Town Hall Education Courses Safety Challenges Safety Forums Commercial Operations General Aviation / Training

HAI SAFETY INITIATIVES HAI Operator Safety Awards HAI Pilot Safety Awards HAI Maintenance Technician Awards Free Safety literature and DVD s SMS Flying in the Wire Environment Risk Assessment / Decision Making

FAA GRANT Flight Data Monitoring / Health Usage Monitoring Safety: Economic: Trend Analysis Pre Failure Extend TBO / Inspection Intervals Accident Investigations

HAI ACCREDITATION PROGRAM VOLUNTARY MISSION SPECIFIC STANDARDS / ISBAO BASED (Coordination with other accreditation programs) HAI TRAINED AUDITORS FIELD AUDITS WILL BE CONDUCTED OPERATOR MENTORING PROGRAM SCALABLE SMALL TO LARGE OPERATORS

NEW HAI SAFETY PROGRAM LAND THE DAMN HELICOPTER

Safety Themes 1. What were they thinking? 2. Let s Get High 3. Safety from the top down 4. Land the Damn Helicopter 5. Effects of an accident 6. Do we facilitate accidents? 7. What about the victims and their families

International Helicopter Safety Team WWW.IHST.ORG REDUCE THE INTERNATIONAL HELICOPTER ACCIDENT RATE BY 80 % OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS

IHST REVISED GOAL ESTABLISHED ZERO ACCIDENTS!

ACCURATE DATA 1. ACCURATE FLIGHT HOURS FLOWN ARE ESSENTIAL 2. ACCIDENT RATE WOULD BE LOWER THAN WE CURRENTLY BELIEVE

Potential Influences on future Safety:- Public perception / Regulators / Legislatures Green Initiatives: Exterior Noise / Emissions Infrastructure: Heliports / Access to Airspace Unmanned Vehicle Operations

Potential Influences on future Instrument Flight Capabilities (Safety / Expanded use / Schedule reliability) Technology NextGen / HUMS-FDM (Economic / safety / operational impact) Customer requirements / standards

HELICOPTER INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE LEVELS Expansion of overall business activity Retirement of Viet Nam Era personnel Higher client standards Lack of young people entering industry

(POTENTIAL) EFFECT ON SAFETY Shortage of experienced pilots and technicians Inability of operators to meet business demands and client standards Lower experience levels (could) result in higher accident rates if proper initiatives and cultures are not put in place. Flight Hours are not the sole determinant factor of Safety. Competency and currency in specific missions, operating environments and aircraft category / type are critical considerations

Vision IMAGINE NO ACCIDENTS

Questions? 2015 AMERCA Flight Standards Meeting April 7-8, 2015 Tysons, Virginia USA