According to sources, there was an urgent need to create a policy and have a set of rules in place because there have been increasing instances of private airline operators not following rules while air-lifting and transporting patients.
With the increasing number of people using air ambulances to fly patients to different cities, the Directorate General Civil Aviation (DGCA) has decided to issue a new set of rules for the operation of the service. The DGCA has made a draft and put it in public domain to seek opinions from the stakeholders, who are expected to give their feedback by June 27.
According to sources, there was an urgent need to create a policy and have a set of rules in place because there have been increasing instances of private airline operators not following rules while air-lifting and transporting patients.
Air ambulance service is one where the aircraft is used to facilitate emergency medical assistance where immediate and rapid transportation is essential, by carrying medical personnel, medical supplies, ill or injured persons from/to hospital.
The service is considered to be a commercial air service, which needs to be regulated to ensure safe aircraft operations, says the draft policy prepared by the DGCA.
According to the draft, there should be at least one medical attendant on board who should have undergone training in aviation medicine.
Rule 134A of the Aircraft Rules, 1937 specifies that no person shall operate any non-scheduled air transport service from, to, in, or across India, except with the permission of the central government. This Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) contains minimum requirements for air ambulance operations.
These include specifications that medical facilities like stretchers be equipped with at least two sets of restraining straps; medical oxygen capable of adjustable flow from 2 to 15 liters per minute; dead weights used on ground for traction purposes be replaced with spring type devices; infusion devices, if used on board, be automated and designed not to be dependent on gravitational flows.
In terms of aircraft requirements, at least 30 inches (76 cm) of vertical head space shall exist above the head of the stretcher, with sufficient attendant access without obstruction. Lighting for the patient area shall be adequate for care by medical personnel. The electrical system of the aircraft shall be capable of supporting all of the ancillary equipment without the threat of overload or systems failure.
In case of helicopters performing air ambulance service, the door size should be sufficient for smooth entrance of a patient lying on a stretcher.
The person who accompanies the patient also need to fit certain criteria like the doctor or nurse on board should hold current certification as appropriate in their profession adequate for the care of patient with specific illness. Also, doctors and paramedics should have a minimum of two years' experience in critical care. Additionally, at least one of the medical attendants should have undergone training in aviation medicine.
What is aviation medicine?
Aviation medicine, also called flight medicine or aerospace medicine, is a preventive or occupational medicine in which the patients/subjects are pilots, aircrew, or persons involved in spaceflight. The specialty strives to treat or prevent conditions to which aircrews are particularly susceptible, applies medical knowledge to the human factors in aviation and is thus a critical component of aviation safety. A military practitioner of aviation medicine may be called a flight surgeon and a civilian practitioner is an aviation medical examiner.
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