Safety Starts with Education
The initial relationship between aviation service providers and their prospective clients is frequently a study in practical dysfunction. At the beginning, the two entities are often relatively ignorant of the fundamental specifics of each others’ processes and procedural requirements. Often, presumptions of awareness, knowledge, or experience are made by both sides which significantly increases safety risks associated with the planned operation.
A perfect example of this is the relationship between first responders and their Helicopter Air Ambulance (HAA) counterparts. Helicopters require adequate space, appropriate surface conditions, and a myriad of other considerations to safely land and collect the patient for transport. First responders on the ground typically have limited education regarding the specifics of LZ selection, security, and communication with the aircraft. As a result, many accident scene landings quickly devolve into a chaotic hazardous situation that could be avoided with enhanced training, communication, and situational awareness.
This phenomenon is not confined to HAA operations. In the further-reaching scope of industry where aviation assets are potentially required, unless the two entities have a habitual working relationship, the issue remains steadfast. This concern is also not limited to fixed and rotary-wing activities. The usefulness and cost-effectiveness of drones has seen them incorporated into segments of industry previously reserved for larger, significantly more costly rotary-wing platforms. Although these incredibly flexible devices are increasingly easier to procure and use, they still require specialized aviation knowledge, regulation awareness, and other aviation specific considerations that many operators are unfamiliar with.
It is therefore imperative that when planning an event or operation where aviation support is required, the responsible party considers the further-reaching procedural implications that accompany safe aviation-related operations.
The key to achieving the highest level of operational safety is to ensure that all personnel involved are properly trained and educated appropriate to their assigned responsibilities. At the micro level, this can be accomplished by working closely with the associated aviation professional who should provide the required training for the operation.
There are, however, frequent cases where a specific aviation operator is either unavailable or it is not feasible for them to provide education or training. For example, in the U.S. there are over 21,000 Emergency Medical Service agencies, 18,000 state and local law enforcement agencies, and 27,000 fire departments in the United States. Existing HAA operators do not have the capacity or resources to reach all of these entities to provide essential recurring HAA specific safety training. Therefore, a third party who can provide this critical education is a crucial component of a holistic approach to enhanced operational safety.
Aerial Integration Solutions was developed to meet that need. AIS functions as an interface between the aviation service provider and its customer to ensure a collaborative approach where critical, often overlooked information is shared to ensure a sustainably safe outcome. Further, AIS provides aviation specific training and education for ground-based operators where appropriate information and support is otherwise limited.