The Honorable J. Randolph Babbitt Administrator Federal Aviation Administration Washington, D.C. 20591

摘要

Calendar year 2008 was the deadliest year on record for the helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) industry, with 12 accidents (8 fatal accidents) and 29 fatalities. As a result of this increase in fatal accidents involving HEMS operations, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) placed the issue of HEMS safety on its Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety Improvements on October 28, 2008, and also conducted a 4-day public hearing to critically examine safety issues concerning this industry.