(1) MINDSET – avoid mission mentality
Mindset is critical. Understand this: the overwhelming majority of air medical aircraft in this country are operated under Part 135 regulations and not under public use/public safety rules. Take a look around your pilot’s office at your base; you will see a copy of your company’s Air Carrier Certificate hanging on the wall in plain view. To translate, you operate under many different rules and regulations. You are not flying “missions” like those during combat or government-funded public safety operations. Unlike the firefighter who runs into the burning building or the police officer who goes towards the sound of gunfire, we do not take
a flight under the premise that it may occur at any and all costs. Your job is to fly your medical team members from point A to B as safely and efficiently as possible. For many, this transition from armed forces and public safety backgrounds can be difficult and requires a reprogramming of sorts. Regardless of your background, you will see things you likely never have seen nor ever wanted to see, and you must be prepared to focus on flying the aircraft safely and efficiently.
(2) ADAPTABILITY – expect change
From the interpersonal perspective: be prepared for changes in aviation colleagues, medical crew members, management, etc. Be prepared for different opinions, styles, and personalities. From the aviation operational perspective: be prepared and adaptive to frequent policy and regulation changes. Be adaptive to things you may have never experienced in your previous career. Single-pilot HAA operations can, at times, be very workload intensive. For some, it may be the first time in their career they have been the
lone aviator in the aircraft, making it rather overwhelming initially. Be prepared for numerous changes on the fly, and coordinate changes for landing zones, multiple radios, etc. Unfortunately, it isn’t too uncommon to find yourself in a back-up aircraft when your primary aircraft is unavailable for maintenance, etc. This back-up may be a completely different make and model with little to no similarities to your primary aircraft.
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July/Aug 2021
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