Air Ambulance
03-19-2010, 03:14 PM
#11
On Reserve
Joined APC: Feb 2010
Posts: 12
Originally Posted by fly4usd
Howdy y'all
This thread is a good opportunity to say 'hi' and introduce myself.
I fly FW air ambulance for more than 10 years worldwide, so maybe I'll share my $.02:
EMS flying is no-nonsense, no-frill business. 90% of your flight time will be at night, in lousy weather (that's the time when they need you) and with plenty of the UN-expected:
You will be on call. You have 45 min to 1 hour to get to the aircraft AND get all horses out of the barn (flight plan, clearance, pre-flight, chocks, ...). Remember:
So, now let's talk airplane: Most FW air ambulance provider run 401, 421 and King Airs. Well it doesn't make your night to get the above mentioned payload into a 421. IT JUST DOESN'T FIT and if it does, your tires will go flat. You are on these flights under critical W&B!!
Oh, did I mention that it will rain (eventually snow) and the weather will be lousy the least. Your flight is around 1 hour to 2 hours, depending on the trauma center you'll go and arrangements have been made. Peer pressure is immense (have-to-go-syndrome) from ALL participants in this gig!
Well, I am sure most of you get the picture by now: It is not that glamorous as it looks on TV
Well, now a few lines to your qualification:
you need to be nuts!
you need extraordinary judgment (comes with being nuts)
+ 2000TT
+ 200 turbine (King Air)
ATP
first class
special training part 135 for air ambulance
Jet operation is pretty much similar (just higher and narrower)
Most of your TT and certificates is dictated by INSURANCE! Also, if your operator is 135 single-pilot, you can't log any SIC time as long as you have NON-crew-members on your flight. It's a complex topic and a thread by itself.
Well, actually I just wanted to introduce myself:
Hi - Cheerio
This thread is a good opportunity to say 'hi' and introduce myself.
I fly FW air ambulance for more than 10 years worldwide, so maybe I'll share my $.02:
EMS flying is no-nonsense, no-frill business. 90% of your flight time will be at night, in lousy weather (that's the time when they need you) and with plenty of the UN-expected:
- I've had to load a 400lbs patient on a door because stretcher was bending too much and the hospital hadn't a strecher big enough. Well, we had to duct-tape this poor guy onto the door to load him;
- some aircraft don't have a cargo door or a loading system for the sled (aka stretcher). So you need EVERY hands-on you can get at 3AM. Your cute flight paramedics ain't strong enough to get a 320lbs gozilla through the door and the mechanic locked away the key to the forklift.
- You patient unexpectedly wakes up (because meds wearing off), gets up, knocks down the flight medics and tries to open the door because he needs to get back to his trailer (double-wide). He forgot getting his dog inside.
- buy me a beer and I'll entertain you for the next 48 hours with stories
You will be on call. You have 45 min to 1 hour to get to the aircraft AND get all horses out of the barn (flight plan, clearance, pre-flight, chocks, ...). Remember:
- you do this all by yourself!
- At night! (FBO (if any) is closed, Twr is clsd, ...)
So, now let's talk airplane: Most FW air ambulance provider run 401, 421 and King Airs. Well it doesn't make your night to get the above mentioned payload into a 421. IT JUST DOESN'T FIT and if it does, your tires will go flat. You are on these flights under critical W&B!!
Oh, did I mention that it will rain (eventually snow) and the weather will be lousy the least. Your flight is around 1 hour to 2 hours, depending on the trauma center you'll go and arrangements have been made. Peer pressure is immense (have-to-go-syndrome) from ALL participants in this gig!
Well, I am sure most of you get the picture by now: It is not that glamorous as it looks on TV
Well, now a few lines to your qualification:
you need to be nuts!
you need extraordinary judgment (comes with being nuts)
+ 2000TT
+ 200 turbine (King Air)
ATP
first class
special training part 135 for air ambulance
Jet operation is pretty much similar (just higher and narrower)
Most of your TT and certificates is dictated by INSURANCE! Also, if your operator is 135 single-pilot, you can't log any SIC time as long as you have NON-crew-members on your flight. It's a complex topic and a thread by itself.
Well, actually I just wanted to introduce myself:
Hi - Cheerio
P.S. Contrary to popular belief, a good air ambulance pilot isn't worried about the patient in the back and he/she shouldn't be. Feel free to ask why.
Last edited by USMCFLYR; 03-19-2010 at 05:38 PM. Reason: Insults deleted
03-19-2010, 07:45 PM
#12
New Hire
Joined APC: Mar 2010
Position: Cpt. C90/B200, King Air Instructor, EMS and SLC pilot
Posts: 4
Originally Posted by bagofhammers
This is a pretty exaggerated example of air ambulance life. ...
Last edited by USMCFLYR : Today at 06:38 PM. Reason: Insults deleted
Last edited by USMCFLYR : Today at 06:38 PM. Reason: Insults deleted
so, you disagree with my point of view? Well, that's cool. What's not so cool is your need to insult people with a different understanding!?
That gives us a deep insight in lack of professionalism we all need to work on as pilots.
Maybe I am able to give a small advice? Agree to disagree - and you'll keep your credibility as a pro.
I am sure most reader of this forum are adult enough to understand the entertaining undertone in my post. Maybe I need to clarify: It is 'hangar flying' from an old guy who has been around the block.
Happy tailwinds for you my friend
Last edited by fly4usd; 03-19-2010 at 07:55 PM. Reason: better wording
03-19-2010, 08:33 PM
#13
On Reserve
Joined APC: Feb 2010
Posts: 12
Originally Posted by fly4usd
bagofhammers,
What's not so cool is your need to insult people with a different understanding!?
What's not so cool is your need to insult people with a different understanding!?
03-20-2010, 04:48 PM
#14
Line Holder
Joined APC: Sep 2009
Position: Fixed Wing & Both
Posts: 33
And I'm not impressed either 'fly4usd'!
I have worked in Air Ambulance for 4 years and one thing I have to add or clear up is that YOU as a pilot should NEVER make the decision to go/no go based on the patients condition. As far as I'm concerned they are just chips and pop back there. You as a Pilot in Command should NEVER put 4 peoples lives on the line for the sake of ONE! THAT is being professional and treating our profession with the respect that it deserves.
I have worked in Air Ambulance for 4 years and one thing I have to add or clear up is that YOU as a pilot should NEVER make the decision to go/no go based on the patients condition. As far as I'm concerned they are just chips and pop back there. You as a Pilot in Command should NEVER put 4 peoples lives on the line for the sake of ONE! THAT is being professional and treating our profession with the respect that it deserves.
03-21-2010, 06:04 AM
#15
On Reserve
Joined APC: Feb 2010
Posts: 12
Originally Posted by MTCowboy
And I'm not impressed either 'fly4usd'!
I have worked in Air Ambulance for 4 years and one thing I have to add or clear up is that YOU as a pilot should NEVER make the decision to go/no go based on the patients condition. As far as I'm concerned they are just chips and pop back there. You as a Pilot in Command should NEVER put 4 peoples lives on the line for the sake of ONE! THAT is being professional and treating our profession with the respect that it deserves.
I have worked in Air Ambulance for 4 years and one thing I have to add or clear up is that YOU as a pilot should NEVER make the decision to go/no go based on the patients condition. As far as I'm concerned they are just chips and pop back there. You as a Pilot in Command should NEVER put 4 peoples lives on the line for the sake of ONE! THAT is being professional and treating our profession with the respect that it deserves.
03-21-2010, 09:59 PM
#16
In the dumpster fire
Joined APC: Jan 2010
Posts: 257
Hey Fly4usd, can you share what company you fly for?
FYI, I have flown air ambulance (American Care Air) and what you say does indeed sound very suspicious. Not trying to insult you, but just coming into a forum and posting this type of misleading information behind an anonymous screen name is pretty lame.
FYI, I have flown air ambulance (American Care Air) and what you say does indeed sound very suspicious. Not trying to insult you, but just coming into a forum and posting this type of misleading information behind an anonymous screen name is pretty lame.
03-22-2010, 07:50 AM
#19
On Reserve
Joined APC: Feb 2010
Posts: 12
Originally Posted by 698jet
Great gig to work you build a lot of time fast.
08-16-2010, 07:06 AM
#20
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2006
Position: 320 right side
Posts: 176
You guys are funny! I have worked in the Air Ambulance field for 10 years now. There are so many different companies out there, you're probably all right in your own experiences. Their are the fly 24/7 gone all the time companies, and the ones that actually let you have a good quality of life. I work for one that gives us 5 on 5 off and you can respond from home. We fly Citation Ultras and King Air B2000's Every pilot flys both and we use 2 pilots for both. Our company is NOT a time builder, but gives you some great time at home with the family.
As for the 90% night flights.....That is NOT the case for our company. We do fly a lot at night, but we rotate the 12 hour shifts between day and night. (5 days, 5 off 5 nights, etc...) Still, I have more day time. We dont fly over to europe, so I am not qualified to comment on the 90% nights in that regard.
We DONT make decisions according to PT condition. We dont even know anything about PT. Its hard finding a good AA job, you pretty much have to know someone for the good companies, and there is little turnover. The companies that advertise a pilot position have turnover for a reason. (not going to go any further down that road)
All in all, I have had a great experience here....
I have worked in the Air Ambulance field for 10 years now. There are so many different companies out there, you're probably all right in your own experiences. Their are the fly 24/7 gone all the time companies, and the ones that actually let you have a good quality of life. I work for one that gives us 5 on 5 off and you can respond from home. We fly Citation Ultras and King Air B2000's Every pilot flys both and we use 2 pilots for both. Our company is NOT a time builder, but gives you some great time at home with the family. As for the 90% night flights.....That is NOT the case for our company. We do fly a lot at night, but we rotate the 12 hour shifts between day and night. (5 days, 5 off 5 nights, etc...) Still, I have more day time. We dont fly over to europe, so I am not qualified to comment on the 90% nights in that regard.
We DONT make decisions according to PT condition. We dont even know anything about PT. Its hard finding a good AA job, you pretty much have to know someone for the good companies, and there is little turnover. The companies that advertise a pilot position have turnover for a reason. (not going to go any further down that road)
All in all, I have had a great experience here....
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