ensure our teams were protected.” Metro Aviation, meanwhile, is focused entirely on aviation, employing
450 pilots and 250 mechanics across the country for medical customers. With no medical personnel on staff, the company has looked to its customers for support. “We quickly assembled a medical director advisory committee to
get feedback and direction on how to best protect our pilots, aircraft, and crew,” say Metro’s Morrow. “Tey did an excellent job of preparing us. And as things changed and more information became available, they kept us well informed to make decisions that are in the best interest of our people’s health and safety.”
Staffing Outlook Te COVID-19 health crisis has had one unexpected positive effect on the air ambulance industry: its staffing forecast. Helicopter operations in general have been losing pilots and mechanics to airlines over the past several years. Te pandemic has hit the airlines hard, with a long, slow recovery anticipated. As commercial airplanes are parked around the world, some furloughed pilots and maintenance technicians are looking to return to the helicopter industry. “We were losing pilots pretty fast to the airlines, and now those
opportunities aren’t there,” says Grygiel. “Tis is where watching what happens to the commercial airline industry is going to be key to how our supply of qualified pilots and mechanics will be affected.” As for medical flight crew positions, the shortage continues. Pre-
COVID, facilities reported that their open positions attracted fewer applicants than in past years and, in some cases, very few qualified candidates. “In the past, an open flight nurse or flight paramedic position would
attract a long list of applicants,” says Cooper’s Rohrbach. “It’s hard to get a good pool, even before COVID, let alone people who meet the requirements. It’s getting harder and harder over the whole industry. “However, there’s a lot of goodwill and sentiment with the public
right now for health care,” he says. “I hope that will have a real effect. I hope a year from now, people will remember how valuable and important these professions are and how they put it all on the line for you. I hope more people will want to join these professions.”
Life after COVID Air medical operators are staying up-to-date on the latest developments in this disease, pivoting as needed to maintain their ability to safely save lives. Longer term, the largest concern is an adequate PPE supply to meet the demand through the entire pandemic. And then there’s what happens after. “You’ve got to figure all these people who’ve been cooped up and
haven’t been able to do things are really going to get out and start [moving] when they can, even people who haven’t been that active in the past,” Morrow says. “I predict we’ll see an increase in heart attacks, strokes, trauma, and accidents as the states open up. We’re advising our people to stay staffed and prepared for that shift as COVID decreases.”
30 ROTOR 2020 Q2 Stephen Leavins, LifeFlight of Maine flight paramedic, and Kirk Donovan, captain, SevenBar Aviation / LifeFlight of Maine.
Nurse Dustin Bailey and Medic Blake Gregg display a can-do attitude on a Global Medical Response flight.
HAI Salutes Our Everyday Heroes!
WATCH HAI’s salute to HAA crews
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80
