[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 111 (Tuesday, July 8, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S6443]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Ms. CANTWELL:
  S. 3229. A bill to increase the safety of the crew and passengers in 
air ambulances; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation.
  Ms. CANTWELL. Mr. President, I come to the floor today to ask for my 
colleagues' support for the Air Medical Service Safety Improvement Act 
of 2008, a measure that redefines our commitment to improving the 
safety for the flight crews, flight nurses, and passengers aboard 
emergency air medical service helicopters and fixed wing aircraft.
  These EMS aviation operations provide an important service to the 
public by transporting seriously ill patients or donor organs to 
emergency care facilities. Each year, on average, air medical companies 
transport about 350,000 patients by helicopter and 100,000 by fixed 
wing aircraft.
  Providing emergency air medical service is dangerous work. 
Unfortunately, we have been reminded of this fact all too many times 
this year, most recently by the tragic crash in Arizona.
  I first became involved in the issue of emergency air medical service 
safety when an EMS helicopter crashed near my hometown in Washington 
state. On September 29, 2005, an Airlift Northwest EMS transport 
helicopter crashed into the waters of Puget Sound at Browns Bay, just 
north of Edmonds, Washington. On board were pilot Steve Smith, and 
nurses Erin Reed and Lois Suzuki. There were no survivors. Over time, I 
have communicated with both Erin's mother and sister about their loss.
  The cause of the crash remains unknown as EMS transport helicopters 
are not required to have a ``black box'' or flight data recorder on 
board, and only part of the helicopter could be recovered from Puget 
Sound. Some in the area think the wind, rain, and heavy fog were to 
blame. Others claim that the helicopter sounded like it was having 
engine trouble.
  All we do know is that three people dedicated to saving lives were 
lost in the ocean that night. And sadly, their story is not uncommon.
  According to a study by Johns Hopkins University, one in four medical 
helicopters will crash during its 15 years of service. In just the last 
six months, there have been nine medical helicopter crashes and 16 
deaths.
  This alarming epidemic of accidents has opened the eyes of the 
Federal Aviation Administration, National Transportation Safety Board 
and policymakers in recent days. But the recent spike in accidents is 
not a new trend. In fact, between January 2002 and January 2005, there 
were 55 crashes of medical helicopters. On January 25, 2006, the NTSB 
released a report identifying recurring gaps in safety that must be 
addressed, including: Less stringent requirements for emergency medical 
operations conducted without patients on board; a lack of aviation 
flight risk-evaluation programs; a lack of consistent, comprehensive 
flight dispatch procedures; and no requirements to use technologies 
such as terrain awareness and warning systems that have the power to 
enhance flight safety.
  At my request, Section 508 of S. 1300, a bill to reauthorize the FAA 
incorporated the NTSB recommendations for addressing these gaps. 
Subsequent to that bill's introduction in the spring of 2007, I had the 
opportunity to discuss with stakeholders how to improve upon the 
language. The bill I am introducing today is essentially the amendment 
I filed this May when the FAA reauthorization bill was on the floor. 
Given the uncertain status of that legislation, and in light of the 
recent events, I felt the urgency to transform the amendment into 
stand-alone legislation.
  This bill will implement new procedures and improve standards already 
in place through strengthened safety requirements, comprehensive flight 
dispatch and flight following procedures, improved situation awareness 
of helicopter air crews, and better data available to NTSB 
investigators at crash sites.
  It is time to put black boxes in these helicopters.
  It is time to require the same safety standards regardless of whether 
or not a patient is on board.
  It is time to evaluate potential risks before take-off.
  It is time to improve the situational awareness of air medical flight 
crews.
  If not, we are bound to witness more tragedies.
  I am committed to these changes and I ask my colleagues to lend their 
support in making the skies safer for the men and women who dedicate 
their lives to getting critically injured patients the medical 
attention they need.
                                 ______