Safety
French HEMS debate heats up around second crewmember
The deadline is approaching for adding a technical crewmember in the copilot seat but a pilot union opposes the hospitals' favored option.
New European rules call for a HEMS pilot to be assisted by a so-called technical crewmember in the left seat.
New European rules call for a HEMS pilot to be assisted by a so-called technical crewmember in the left seat.

France’s civil aviation authority, the DGAC, has approved the idea of training medical personnel to serve as the HEMS “technical crewmembers” required by the EASA’s IR-OPS regulation. Beginning October 8, a technical crewmember will be required on some HEMS flights that thus far have been conducted by a single pilot. Operators’ reactions vary from wariness to strong support, but one pilot union vigorously opposes the move.