ID
3-508-1026
Name
Air Ambulance Fixed-Wing (Non-Critical Care Transport)
Status
Published
Version
1.8
Updated
11/15/2019 9:59:21 AM
Original Release
03/01/2009
Last Major Release
11/15/2019
Description
An Air Ambulance Fixed-Wing (Non-Critical Care Transport) is a single resource that includes a single or twin-engine, jet or propeller airplane, pilot, and crew. This resource provides non-critical care and rapid transportation of patients from scenes, established pick-up sites, or medical facilities to medical facilities (typically located within 150 miles of the disaster area). It does not transport critical care patients unless the Aeromedical Transport Manager determines it to be necessary. Factors such as capabilities and configuration of the individual aircraft, capabilities of the pilot, qualifications of the medical crew, and weather conditions determine the range of transport.
Resource Category
Emergency Medical Services
Primary Core Capability
Public Health, Healthcare, and Emergency Medical Services
Secondary Core Capability
Critical Transportation
Resource Kind
Aircraft/Team
Overall Function
The Air Ambulance Fixed-Wing (Non-Critical Care Transport):
1. Provides transportation, evacuation, and emergency medical care for patients via fixed-wing aircraft from scene, established pick-up site, or medical facility to medical facilities
2. May also transport medical personnel, equipment, supplies, and blood and fluid products into the area of need
3. May also transport critical care patients from disaster sites to medical facilities when necessary, as the Aeromedical Transport Manager determines
Composition and Ordering Specifications
1. Discuss logistics for deploying this resource, such as working conditions, length of deployment, security, lodging, resupply of medical services, transportation, and meals prior to deployment
2. The Federal Aviation Administration places restrictions on crew duty in 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 117
3. Requestor will provide transportation (including for patient care personnel to and from the airhead for the sending and receiving medical facilities), food, and rest facilities, unless other arrangements exist
4. Provider confirms the maximum distance the Air Ambulance Fixed-Wing will transport the patient to ensure the ordering of the appropriate aircraft
5. Provider confirms an appropriate length runway is available for takeoff and landing
6. Provider confirms the appropriate fuel (jet fuel vs. aviation gas) and oil is available for the requested aircraft
7. Provider determines any maintenance limitations (such as number of hours the aircraft can fly before removal for routine maintenance)
8. Requestor should identify Fixed Operating Base (FOB) facilities to support air mission logistics
9. Requestor may order backup supplies and equipment, depending on number of patients and type of event
10. Requestor should specify needed specialty care services, as number of personnel will vary with capacity of aircraft and mission
11. Requestor can order an Aeromedical Transport Manager for administrative and logistics support
12. Requestor should specify personnel required to transport patient based on patient acuity
13. Requestor must notify provider if family member(s) will accompany patient to ensure sufficient space in aircraft
14. Requestor should specify advanced life support (ALS)-level or basic life support (BLS)-level of care
15. This team does not provide transport of patients with infectious diseases as it requires specialized teams and equipment compliant with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance
| Supporting Core Capabilities |
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| None |
| Components | ||||||||||||||||
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| Component | Notes | |||||||||||||||
| MINIMUM PERSONNEL PER TEAM | NIMS Type 2 Aeromedical Transport Officer should be physically present or in direct radio or phone communication for medical direction. |
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| MANAGEMENT AND OVERSIGHT PERSONNEL PER TEAM | NIMS Type 2 Aeromedical Transport Officer should be physically present or in direct radio or phone communication for medical direction. |
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| SUPPORT PERSONNEL PER TEAM | 1. All types capable of transporting patients. Requestor should communicate needs in advance regarding special patient populations with high-acuity needs, such as neonatal and pediatric transfers, heart-lung bypass support, invasive monitoring, and high-risk obstetrics, to ensure that the equipment and crew are mission-capable. 2. Critical Care, Neonatal, or Burn Transport Team(s)/personnel are a single resource to support any mix of critical/non-critical care patients. 3. NIMS Type 2 Registered Nurse has specialty in flight nursing. 4. Requestor, provider, or Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) may increase pilots based on mission needs, aircraft type, and flying conditions. 5. Additional aircrew may include non-medical personnel for flight assistance and aircraft maintenance purposes. 6. The pilot is not a NIMS typed position. |
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| Patient Load Capacity Per Team | Types 4 and 5 may include employment of all nationwide Civil Air Patrol aircraft (ambulatory only or for blood, medical personnel, or organ transports). |
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| Patient Care and Medical Level Equipment Per Team | 1. ALS Equipment for high-acuity patients is mission-specific and may include: IV pumps, invasive monitoring, pressure support devices, isolettes, heart-lung bypass support, specialized medications, and fetal monitoring. 2. Unless provided from another source, or accompanying the patient (like oxygen), Type 5 aircraft have no medical equipment and supplies. 3. A Type 4 Aircraft may upgrade to Type 3 with fully equipped and certified ALS provider (non-crew member). 4. May require separate aircraft equipment/supply aeromedical evacuation treatment kit. |
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| Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Equipment Per Team Member | The following standards address PPE: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 29 CFR Part 1910.134: Respiratory Protection and Part 1910.1030: Bloodborne Pathogens. |
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| Notes |
|---|
| References |
|---|
| Reference |
| FEMA, NIMS 509: Aeromedical Transport Manager |
| FEMA, NIMS 509: Aeromedical Transport Officer |
| FEMA, NIMS 509: Aeromedical Transport Paramedic |
| FEMA, NIMS 509: Registered Nurse |
| FEMA, National Incident Management System (NIMS), October 2017 |
| American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma (ACS-COT), National Association of EMS Physicians (NAEMSP), American College of Emergency Physicians, EMSC Partnership for Children, and the American Academy of Pediatrics. Equipment for Ambulances. (Revised 2013) |
| Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 117: Flight and Duty Limitations and Rest Requirements: Flight Crew Members, latest edition adopted |
| Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 29 CFR Part 1910.120: Hazardous Materials Awareness, latest edition adopted |
| OSHA 29 CFR Part 1910.134: Respiratory Protection, latest edition adopted |
| OSHA 29 CFR Part 1910.1030: Bloodborne Pathogens, latest edition adopted |