Technology has taken over almost all parts of our daily lives today, so it is no surprise that the air ambulance industry is evolving technologically. However, most of the changes have been focussing on making the flights safer and the equipment more effective. What about the information that the air ambulance crew handles every day? There has not been significant progress in this realm. Most of the information is exchanged via paper even today. It must be pointed out that some of the information is shared electronically, but there is a problem. The information sharing is mostly scattered and there is no one-stop solution to it as of now.
Electronic Flight Bags can Transform Air Ambulance Functioning
From standard operating procedures to weather forecasts, there is a sea of information that the crew needs to be aware of during each flight. Wouldn’t it be great if all the relevant information is found under one umbrella? Electronic flight bags can do the trick. A well-connected device that brings all the information under a dashboard is the ideal solution. The information needs to be dynamic as factors such as weather can change constantly. The ecosystem can be interconnected to several sources through a centralized data cloud.
What are the Limitations?
The air ambulance industry is highly regulated. Therefore, the electronic flight bag system would need approval from the relevant authorities and will need to remain in compliance. Then, there is the issue of connectivity. Without continuous connectivity, no cloud system works efficiently. With the air ambulance services often operating in remote areas, wireless internet connectivity can be an issue. Also, uniformity in sharing the data needs to be there so that all the systems involved speak to each other in a common language to avoid misinterpretation, duplication, or omission of critical data.
Despite all the limitations, it is hoped that the air ambulance industry will overcome them in the interest of smoother and more efficient operations.
