International Society of Aeromedical Services (Australasia)
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Air Crew

Helicopter crewmen provide general assistance to the pilot and medical personnel, they operate winching/rappelling equipment to access patients, carry-out air search duties and operate specialist equipment (such as Night Sun, FLIR etc) for search and rescue purposes. There are two helicopter crewman functions in EMS operations - aircrewman and rescue crewman.

The aircrewperson's function, in helicopter EMS operations, is a professional and dedicated function. The aircrewperson performs the following duties:

  • Assist the pilot.
  • Provide checks and clearances.
  • Assist the pilot with communications, navigation, flight log, managing emergencies and checklists.
  • Loading, fuelling and security of the aircraft.
  • Passenger briefings and medical crew instruction.
  • Operate specialist role equipment eg Night Sun SX-16.
  • Assist the medical personnel.
  • Patient handling/packaging.
  • Handling/loading/set-up of medical equipment.
  • Assistance with basic life-support/medical procedures.
  • Carry-out air search operations.
  • Assist with planning and briefings.
  • Maintain search logs.
  • Operate search equipment and SAR markers.
  • Maintain a search log.
  • Supervise observers.
  • Carry-out winching/rappelling operations.
  • Inspect and service winching/rappelling equipment.
  • Provide checks, clearances and directions for the pilot.
  • Operate the winch/supervise and dispatch rappellers.
  • Carry-out various winching techniques.
  • Respond to winching/rappelling emergencies.

Duty Time

The aircrewperson's mental and physical ability and readiness to safely conduct an EMS mission must be assured. Staffing and scheduling requirements should assure that CAO Part 48 - Flight Time Limitations, or a model based upon an approved CASA dispensation for EMS operations, is applied to aircrewmen.

Minimum Qualifications

  • Aircrewpersons employed in EMS operations must meet minimum qualification requirements:
  • Aeronautical Knowledge - CPL (H) theory, (including human performance and limitations) or equivalent qualifications.
  • Flight Radiotelephone Operator Licence.
  • Current Class 2 Medical Certificate.
  • CAO 29.11 Certificate of Competency in Winching/Rappelling Operations.
  • 500 flying hours of aeronautical experience.
  • 200 flying hours in helicopter EMS, SAR or other similar operational experience deemed appropriate by the purchasing/contracting organisation.
  • 50 flying hours of winching operations, such experience to be inclusive of night and over-water experience.
  • Current First Aid qualification to advanced/occupational level.
  • Current HUET qualification.
  • CRM and dangerous goods courses.
  • Workplace Trainer/Assessor qualification (Train Small Groups).
  • Hold or previously held rescue crewman qualifications.

Prior to conducting EMS operations, additional training and qualifications are required:

  • Aircraft type systems, role equipment and flight deck familiarisation.
  • Aircraft type/operator procedures familiarisation (inclusive of flight operations) winching/rappelling operations addressing normal and emergency procedures inclusive of night and over-water operations.
    Night Sun operation.
  • Medical equipment and, as appropriate, assistance with medical procedures.
  • External load procedures.
  • Search techniques, patterns and procedures.
  • Site hazards and considerations associated with EMS/SAR operations.
  • Specialist role equipment fitments.
  • Airborne dropping of stores.

Local area orientation, agency and related agency familiarisation, local weather and special local hazards.

Recurrency training and checking must be done annually. In addition, all winching/rappelling operations, both standard and emergency procedures, will be exercised quarterly.

A planned structured orientation must be provided to any relief aircrewmen. The program should be of sufficient content and duration to address role responsibilities and familiarisation with the region served. Currency of the relief aircrewmen should be determined prior to the beginning of operations.

The aircrewman has the right to decline or abort any portion of the mission if there is any doubt as to the safety of the mission.

Quality Assurance
Competency should be assured through annual checking and quarterly winching/rappelling exercises, which assess proficiency in both standard and emergency procedures. Remedial training must be implemented as deficiencies are identified. If systems and capabilities to assure these activities within the operation are not possible, then they must be acquired or accomplished from outside sources.