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Pilot training
There is a truism in aviation—the best safety program is a
well-trained pilot. Life Star is committed to hiring, retaining
and maintaining well-trained pilots.
All Life Star pilots must have over 2000 hours as pilot in command
prior to consideration for a position. Life Star’s average
pilot has flown over 4500 hours and has over 21 years of flying
experience, including over five years at Life Star.
All Life Star pilots receive factory or factory equivalent training
on our aircraft annually, including ground school, quarterly flight
checks and emergency procedures. Life Star requires flight training
hours annually that quadruple those required by the FAA, our accrediting
body and/or industry standards.
Mechanic training
Life Star’s mechanics have an average of 19 years experience
in aircraft maintenance and average nine years at Life Star. Each
aircraft has its own dedicated mechanic and each mechanic has been
through factory training for the specific type of aircraft and engine
flown. In addition, Life Star’s mechanics are eligible to
receive additional relevant training from national training organizations.
Crew training
Safe operations must be a team effort. All Life Star employees go
through mandatory safety training every six months. This training
includes crew resource management, emergency procedures, survival
and other relevant topics.
Life Star crews have a safety debriefing daily at the beginning
of each shift where a specific safety topic is discussed along with
the day’s forecasted weather. In addition, at the end of each
flight a debriefing is held to discuss the flight and aspect of
it which could be improved.
All crewmembers are encouraged to engage in safety discussions as
a group at monthly safety meetings and/or monthly staff meetings.
Life Star’s Safety Officer, Director of Operations and Program
Director are available 24/7 to deal with safety issues.
Patient safety
Life Star’s commitment to safety extends to our patients.
Our crewmembers are committed to assuring each patient is secured
appropriately in the aircraft and the aircraft is made as secure
and comfortable for the patient as possible.
Life Star’s medical crews receive the highest level of training
to assure patient interventions are done appropriately and with
the attention to detail that patient safety requires. |