Every now and then, we attempt to keep you abreast of the latest happenings in the air ambulance industry. This week witnessed some intriguing developments. We take a look at them in some detail.
Questions being Raised about Efficacy of No Surprise Bill Act
In the United States, air ambulance industry observers are looking at the No Surprise Bill Act with some skepticism recently. The reason behind this is the existence of the Airline Deregulation Act. Experts believe that the air ambulance organizations that are backed by private equity are most likely to look for loopholes by leveraging the Airline Deregulation Act. The new Act that bans surprise billing practices will come into effect in the year 2022.
Air Ambulance and Airplane Come Dangerously Close to Each Other
An air ambulance chopper belonging to North Whales and an airplane reportedly came dangerously close to each other recently. It is believed that the distance between the two was just about 50 feet. The paramedic seated in the air ambulance spotted the airplane first. He had immediately informed the pilot about it averting a life-snuffing situation.
The air ambulance had no prior information that an airplane was in the skies. It was a case of both aerial vehicles not knowing that the other was present. A situation like this is not the first. A similar situation involving an air ambulance and Cessna 150 had occurred in the October of last year. The incident brings to light the fact that air ambulance services must adopt mid-air collision warning systems and not rely merely on human alertness.
Unscrupulous Elements Disrupt Air Ambulance Services
Although the happening surrounding the incident are not yet clear, it was recently reported that a few youths had abused an air ambulance pilot in Derbyshire. The miscreants had not relented at that, they had gone further and tried to grab the blades of the air ambulance chopper in an attempt to damage it. Police were quick to respond and the situation had swiftly come under control.
