S.C. Code Regs. § § 61-7.2200.2203

Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 10, October 25, 2024

Section 61-7.2200.2203 - Aircraft Flight Crew

A. Rotorcraft Pilot. The EMS Agency shall ensure:

1. Each Rotorcraft pilot possess at least a commercial Rotorcraft-helicopter and instrument helicopter rating of 05.04.03;

2. Prior to an assignment with a medical service, the Rotorcraft pilot in command possesses two thousand (2,000) total flight hours, or total flight hours of at least fifteen hundred (1,500) hours, and recent experience that exceeds the operator's pre-hire qualifications such as current air medical and/or search and rescue experience or Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) rated that include the following:

a. At least twelve hundred (1,200) helicopter flight hours;

b. At least one thousand (1,000) of those hours must be as Pilot-in-Charge (PIC) in Rotorcraft;

c. One hundred (100) hours unaided, if the pilot is not assigned to a Night Vision Goggles (NVG) base or aircraft;

d. Fifty (50) hours unaided as long as the pilot has one hundred (100) hours aided, if assigned to an NVG base or aircraft; and e. A minimum of five hundred (500) hours of turbine time.

3. The pilot is readily available within a defined call-up time to ensure an expeditious and timely response; and

4. ATP certificate and instrument currency is strongly encouraged.

B. Rotorcraft Mechanic. The EMS Agency shall ensure:

1. The mechanic primarily assigned to a specific Air Ambulance is factory schooled or equivalent in an FAA approved program on the type of specific airframe, the power plant and all related systems. The EMS Agency shall ensure the primarily assigned mechanic provides direct (on-site during maintenance) supervision to other mechanics assisting with maintenance that may not have this level of experience or training;

2. All mechanics receive formal training on human factors and maintenance error reduction;

3. A policy is written that grants the mechanic permission without fear of reprisal to decline performing any maintenance critical to flight safety that he has not been appropriately trained for, until an appropriately trained mechanic is available to directly supervise or assist;

4. There is a documented annual review of infection control, medical systems, and installations on the aircraft, Patient loading and unloading procedures for all mechanics;

5. At least one (1) technician is available for each service with formal training on the aircraft electrical system and formal training on the autopilot system; and

6. Training related to the interior modification of the aircraft:

a. Prepares the mechanic for inspection of the installation as well as the removal and reinstallation of special medical equipment; and

b. Includes supplemental training on service and maintenance of medical oxygen systems and a policy as to who maintains responsibility for refilling the medical oxygen systems;

C. Fixed Wing Pilot. The EMS Agency shall ensure the pilot-in-command (PIC) possesses the following qualifications:

1. Possesses the following flight hours:

a. Prior to assignment with an EMS Agency and if the aircraft is to be operated using a single PIC, with no Second in Command (SIC):

TYPE OR CLASS OF AIRCRAFT	TOTAL FLIGHT HOURS	MULTI-ENGINE HOURS	PIC HOURS	TYPE RATE HOURS
Single Engine Turbo-Prop	2500	N/A	1000	50
Multi-Engine Piston	2500	500	1000	50
Multi-Engine Turbo Prop	2500	500	1000	100

b. If the aircraft is to be operated with two (2) fully trained and qualified pilots:

TYPE OR CLASS OF AIRCRAFT	PIC TOTAL FLIGHT HOURS	MULTI-ENGINE HOURS	PIC HOURS	SIC TOTAL HOURS
Single Engine Turbo-Prop	2000	N/A	1000	500
Multi-Engine Piston	2000	500	1000	500
Multi-Engine Turbo Prop	2000	500	1000	800
Multi-Engine Turbo Prop	3000	500	1500	1000

2. The PIC is Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) rated within five (5) years of hire;

3. In aircraft that requires two (2) pilots, both pilots shall be type-rated for the make and model, and both pilots shall hold first class medical Certificates if the Certificate holder operates internationally. Both pilots shall have training on Crew Resource Management (CRM) or Multi-pilot Crew Coordination (MCC); and

4. When operating an Air Ambulance with two (2) pilots, the EMS Agency shall maintain policies procedures that address avoidance of a "green on green" situation, where a lower experienced PIC is paired with a lower experienced SIC. The EMS Agency shall ensure the two (2) pilots combined have completed a minimum combined flight experience of two hundred fifty (250) hours in make and model.

D. Fixed-Wing Mechanic. The EMS Agency shall ensure:

1. The mechanic primarily assigned to a specific Air Ambulance possess a minimum of two (2) years of airplane experience as a certified airframe and power plant mechanic prior to assignment, or, in the case of a repair station, the Maintenance Repair Organization (MRO) shall hold a FAA issued Certificate under FAA 14 CFR Part 145 , or the national equivalent, and hold the ratings and/or limitations within its Operations Specifications for the make/model upon which it is performing scheduled maintenance;

2. The primary mechanic performing scheduled maintenance to a specific Air Ambulance is factory-schooled or equivalent in an approved program on the type-specific airframe, the power plant, and all related systems within eighteen (18) months of employment by the operator;

3. All mechanics must receive formal training on human factors and maintenance error reduction;

4. If not working for a maintenance organization certified under FAA 14CFR Part 145 or national equivalent, the EMS Agency implements a written policy that grants the mechanic permission, without fear of reprisal, to decline from performing any maintenance critical to flight safety that he or she has not been appropriately trained for, until an appropriately trained mechanic is available to directly supervise;

5. There is an annual review of infection control, medical systems, and installations on the aircraft, Patient loading and unloading procedures for all mechanics;

6. There will be at least one (1) technician or MRO available for each service with formal training on the aircraft electrical system and formal training on avionics; and

7. Training related to the interior modifications of the aircraft:

a. Training must prepare the mechanic for inspection of the installation as well as the removal and reinstallation of special medical equipment; and

b. There is supplemental training on service and maintenance of medical oxygen systems and a policy as to who maintains responsibility for refilling the medical oxygen system.

E. The EMS Agency shall ensure that each Patient is evaluated prior to a flight for the purpose of determining that appropriate Air Ambulance, flight and medical crew, and equipment are provided to meet the Patient's needs.

F. The EMS Agency shall ensure that all medical crew members are adequately trained to perform in flight duties prior to functioning in an inflight capacity.

G. Aircraft Medical Crew. The EMS Agency shall ensure:

1. Each Advanced Life Support Air Ambulance is staffed with at least one (1) currently certified Paramedic or Flight Nurse as may be required by the Patient's condition;

2. Each crew member wears a flame retardant uniform with reflective striping; and

3. Each crew member displays, upon request, a legible photo identification with first name and certification level (for example, pilot, RN, or other) while Patient care is anticipated to be rendered.

H. Orientation Program. The EMS Agency shall ensure:

1. All medical flight crew members complete a base level flight orientation program supervised by the EMS Agency's Medical Control Physician; and

2. The flight orientation program is documented and of a duration and substance to cover all Patient care procedures, including altitude physiology, and flight crew requirements.

S.C. Code Regs. § 61-7.2200.2203

Added by State Register Volume 46, Issue No. 05, eff. 5/27/2022.