PHI Air Medical Recognized with Prestigious National Safety Award from American Eurocopter.

PHI Donates Award to Establish Scholarship Benefiting Dependents of Air Medical Transport Crews

PHOENIX -- PHI Air Medical, Inc. was awarded American Eurocopter's first annual Vision Zero Aviation Safety Award for their groundbreaking efforts in developing a comprehensive Enhanced Operational Control (EOC) system for their entire air medical operation.

This award recognizes one company in the air medical industry which embodies the goal of flight safety and zero accidents of consequence. Marc Paganini, President and CEO of American Eurocopter, stated, "This is a significant step forward in safety for the air medical community."

As part of the award process, PHI Air Medical agreed to share their groundbreaking Enhanced Operational Control (EOC) system with the entire air medical industry. PHI executives have worked diligently to improve safety for not only their pilots and professionals, but for the industry as a whole.

Howard Ragsdale, the Director of PHI Air Medical, noted, "We appreciate the recognition for this effort and are proud of the PHI team. We knew going in that this was going to be an expensive undertaking, but we have made a commitment to our patients and employees that we do everything possible to operate safely. This commitment reflects the compassion and commitment to safety by the professionals who comprise PHI Air Medical."

The push toward improving safety practices and advancing technology began for PHI Air Medical in the Spring of 2005 when the need to identify and mitigate pilot-decision-making risks became apparent. At that time, PHI pioneered a risk-assessment matrix for use in the company's air medical operations. The results were shared with the FAA's Air Medical Task Force and its national constituency, which led to the adoption of an Advisory Circular on Air Medical Risk Assessment.

After the development of the PHI Air Medical risk assessment matrix, work began to create an enhanced mechanism to provide line pilots with critical decision-making information in real time.

PHI Air Medical then implemented an EOC station within the Communications Center at their Phoenix headquarters, where operators could observe and communicate directly with pilots throughout the country.

Next, the Enhanced Operational Control Supervisor was developed. Working with the Communications Specialists who coordinate patient transports for their 67 air medical aircraft, an EOC pilot is made available at any time to the EMS pilots in the field. Protocols were also developed from highly sophisticated weather tracking to forecasting to en-route advisories.

Giving Back to the Industry

In addition to sharing the protocols and program with the industry, PHI made a commitment to helping to initiate the Foundation of Air Medical Research and Education (FARE) Survivors Scholarship Fund. Proceeds from the Vision Zero Aviation Safety Award, totaling $10,000, will establish an endowed scholarship fund for the dependents of Air Medical Transport crews who lost their lives in the line of duty.

"We have a great sense of responsibility to the men and women who choose this as their profession," explained Ragsdale. "We are not only committed to a culture of safety, but to one of great compassion and professionalism. We are honored that our program was recognized and that so many will benefit from it."

This scholarship fund will be self-supporting, and will provide a scholarship source for surviving dependants' higher educational needs. The scholarship will be administered as a directed donation fund under FARE.

"The wisdom, vision and uncompromising leadership in the innovation of an Enhanced Operational Control System into PHI Air Medical's communication center and safety culture made PHI a logical recipient of the Vision Zero safety award. Forwarding the $10,000 cash award to FARE demonstrates PHI's commitment to take care of the heroes that do this work," commented Dr. Kevin Hutton, Chairman of FARE.

About PHI Air Medical, Inc.

PHI Air Medical, Inc. is a business unit of PHI, Inc., the world leader in rotary flight for over fifty years, and provides support for many of the nation's leading health care organizations. PHI Air Medical pilots have recorded more than ten million flight hours, in virtually every type of helicopter and terrain known. Single helicopters or fleets are provided to customers and capabilities range from hospital-based programs to the total EMS transportation system of Air Evac Services, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of PHI. Years before the first civilian helicopter ambulance took to the air, PHI assisted in emergency medical support. PHI Air Medical headquarters are located in Phoenix, Arizona, with 11 bases in Texas, including six bases in and around the Houston area, two in central Texas, and three more in north Texas.