Helicopter emergency medical service (HEMS) operations in Europe would be made more stringent and standardized under an EASA notice of proposed amendment (NPA). It would revise requirements regarding HEMS operations at high altitudes, flights to and from hospital landing pads in congested areas, mountainous area rescues, and night operations, as well as additional training, equipment, and maintenance rules. The objective of the amendment is to have a “level playing field” for all European member states.

For example, at some hospital sites, current rules do not prevent helicopter flight paths from being obstructed by new buildings and obstacles, according to the proposal. “Operating rules should ensure that, in the long term, performance will be achievable at all or most of the hospital landing sites. The current rules do not achieve this goal and should therefore be amended,” the agency noted.

Regarding mountain operations, EASA said the current HEMS rules are not suited to mountain operations above a density altitude of 10,000 feet. One of the aims of this NPA is to ensure that HEMS rules are adaptable to any kind of terrain, therefore negating the need for a separate definition of mountain operations.

Additionally, the proposed amendment would change the rules for one engine inoperative (OEI) performance capabilities, revise oxygen requirements that are now considered “too restrictive” for HEMS operations, and make the requirements refer specifically to “rescue” missions, rather than the current “search and rescue” missions.

The NPA also proposes to modify night vision equipment options and make changes to improve the safety of HEMS operations in marginal weather. Comments on the NPA are due by September 18.