Recommendation

CASA has reviewed its previous advice in relation to this matter
[provided with the directly involved parties comments to draft
occurrence report 200304282] and I am advised that the Authority
has no additional comment to provide in response to recommendation
R20050002. However, it should be noted that resources to review
this action will be allocated in accordance with CASA's reviewed
priorities.



For your information, a copy of CASA's initial advice is recorded
below.



CASA advice



CASA will:



* Review the requirements for helicopter EMS operations to include
consideration for two pilots, or a stability augmentation and/or
autopilot system;

* Review the special operational and environmental circumstances of
helicopter EMS services, particularly with regard to pilot
qualifications, training and recency including instrument flight
competency; and

* Review the pilot recency requirements for helicopter EMS
operations to ensure that operator check and training processes are
focused on the EMS environment.

The following updates the actions previously advised in response
to the recommendation:

• The proposed review of EMS operation crewing and aircraft
  equipment requirements will take place as part of the re-instated
  project to finalise Civil Aviation Safety Regulation (CASR) Part
  133. As you may be aware, the regulatory review aspects of CASR
  Part 133 have, under instruction from the CASA CEO [deleted], been
  on hold for some time. However I can now advise that this project
  is scheduled to recommence in October 2007, and that this subject
  matter will be incorporated in the consideration of CASR 1998 Part
  133.T.3.

• CASA has been considering these issues (particularly the special
  operational and environmental circumstances associated with EMS
  operations) for some time now as part of the review processes for
  the introduction of Night Vision Goggles (NVG) into Australian
  helicopter night operations. As a result of this review we have
  incorporated helicopter EMS operations as a Permitted NVG
  Operation in the new NVG Civil Aviation Order (CAO) 82.

This CAO (which is now in effect) empowers appropriately
equipped, trained and approved EMS AOC holders to use NVG on their
night EMS primary and secondary response taskings. Both CASA and
the industry consider this to be a major safety initiative and we
will be monitoring its effect over the next twelve months by way of
a formal research process.

• EMS pilot qualifications, training and recency requirements will
  be included in the CASR Part 133 project consultation and review
  processes, however I can also advise the (as part of its normal
  surveillance processes) CASA will continue to review these matters
  in current operations as well.

Additionally I can advise that pilot qualification, training and
recency requirements were also reviewed by both CASA and the
industry as part of the consultation processes associated with the
previously mentioned NVG implementation project, and that the
industry subject matter experts at these meetings included several
representatives from AOC holders who conduct EMS operations in both
VFR and IFR situations at diverse operational locations.

Summary:

Overall our surveillance indicate a general trend of maturation
in the EMS operators within the Australian operational environment
with new contracts being let, more advanced helicopters being
purchased, and many former single engine turbine operations now
also including multi engine/IFR aircraft in their fleet. We also
note operators tending to use their single engine aircraft for day
operations, or as a stand by aircraft to cover unserviceability,
rather than as the primary response aircraft, and whilst this is
not the case in all circumstances, it does show an enhanced
awareness of these matters is also occurring within EMS operators
in general.