‘People have been getting to the hospital a lot longer than helicopters have been taking them there.’
These words ring in my head every time that the tones go off and I check the weather. Chuck Stout, a Marine that I had served with in Afghanistan, told me these words when I was first hired as a Helicopter Air Ambulance pilot. 
In the wake of the last two weeks and the loss of two HAA crews these words weigh heavy on my mind. The majority of our mishaps in this industry are due to weather related accidents. When the tones sounds off we are immediately on the clock. We check the weather and are out in the helicopter taking off within a ten minute time span. Unfortunately, all to often we see human error creep into the mix. This mishap begins in the office when we are looking at our weather. Do we go or do we not go?
No One Is Making Me Go
As pilots we have guidelines that help us make our decisions. These weather minimums assist us as pilots we can use them as guidelines to tell us if we have the weather to go. These weather minimums are not absolutes. All too often I see pilots fly in weather that is marginal at best. When the tones sound off there is no one there making me go. Be conservative! Pilots and medical crews must give themselves a cushion and an escape.
Med Crews- Do Not Let Me Put You in a Bad Situation
My comfort level is much higher than that of my crew on any given night. It is a very simple concept, I have the experience and I have the controls. But I am single pilot. I hear med crews say all the time that they trust me!!!
DO NOT TRUST ME BECAUSE I AM YOUR WORST ENEMY.
I have seen med crews walk blindly to the helicopter just because the pilot says the weather is good. And I have heard med crews question pilots on their judgement after the fact when the flight is over. In our industry we have ‘3 to go,’ 1 to say no’ for a reason. I tell my med crews that we all have a 1/3 stake in the safety of our aircraft. Yes, I may be the one at the controls, but I am also the one that will put us into the dirt.
3 to go, 1 to say no.
Pilots- You Are Just That- A Pilot
We are all human and we all can all make mistakes. I can promise you that there has not been a pilot that has accepted a flight thinking that he was headed for a disaster. If we looked at the experience level across the board you will see that it is not the brand new pilot that has all of the mishaps in this industry, but you will see the experience level all over the map. Fly as a crew and make decisions as a crew. Med crews will often times follow you blindly. You are responsible for their safety.
This is a Safe Industry
This is a safe industry. We have top notch equipment, maintenance and I personally believe upper level support. Not once in my career have I been questioned for turning down a flight. It is the responsibility of the pilot and med crews to make sound decisions.
God Bless All of the Crews and Families that Have Lost Their Lives