Posted on 09/30/2008 2:28:23 PM PDT by Retired Greyhound
But because of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, there is a shortage of the (night-vision) goggles. In the United States, the military gets first access to the goggles, and only a couple of companies manufacture the complex, and classified, equipment. Less than a third of about 800 EMS helicopters in the United States have night-vision technology. A lot more would like it, according to a survey of 382 active helicopter EMS pilots by the National EMS Pilots Association (NEMSPA).
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
Wars provide excellent training and experience for helicopter pilots, many of whom go into private work later in life. I submit to you the argument that war actually helps because it provides the private sector with well-trained helicopter pilots. Without these pilots we would have fewer trained pilots for EMS work.
It has been proven that many of these flights are unnecessary.
Helicopter EMS - The Starbucks Effect
http://roguemedic.blogspot.com/2008/07/helicopter-ems-starbucks-effect.html
BUSH’S FAULT!
This is ridiculous. People can find anything on the Internet these days...
http://www.atncorp.com/NightVision/NightVisionBinocularsGoggles
I didn't have any problem finding some NVG’s either. The 4th Gen goggles are WAY more than those you found, but they sure look like current military NVG’s to me.
This was just one of 8 million hits on Google.
I wonder if a more important factor wouldn’t be that most EMS fly single pilot and not always in the best weather. NVGs are great, but they aren’t a cure all.
You are so right. I’m sure some believe George Bush is the cause. If you google medical transport crashes you’ll find most crashes involve one pilot. I would think two pilots on board would prevent more accidents than night vision goggles.
Red Herring argument. Most EMS missions involve landing/takeoff in highly lighted urban areas where NVGs get washed out anyway- a dangerous condition to be in. EMS aircraft also cruise at higher altitudes where NVG effectiveness in picking up the ground is limited and frankly not needed, NVGs are used primarily to fly low level in low ambient light conditions. EMS aircraft simply don’t fly in those profiles most of the time. Besides there’s plenty of 2nd and 3rd Generation NVGs on the open market if you’re willing to cough up the cash for them.
“A man’s gotta’ know his limitations...”
- Clint Eastwood
Roger that.
A couple months ago two choppers were called to a road near my home for a single vehicle accident. One party was class one and definitely needed the airlift, but since the second bird was already en route they had the chopper take the other patient as well who had a mangled foot, but not in acute distress.
Punchline number one: both were for-profit companies.
Punchline number two: the weather was very quesionable. IFR.
Punchline number three: the trauma center hospital was seven miles/ten minutes away by uncongested roads and an Interstate highway. Took longer to create a landing zone in a hay field than to "grab and go" by ambulance.
That is why the military has a full check-out program when training with NVGs.
Just buying NVGs and then letting them fly without training would INCREASE the accident rate.
Makes you wonder how they ever flew before the goggles?
The cash price for an emergency helicopter lift often passes $15K. The insurance companies pay significantly less than the cash price but cash is not short in the airlift business.
This is a poorly researched article.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.