The National Transportation Safety Board is holding a hearing in Washington, D.C., Feb. 3-6 to learn more about helicopter EMS operations so that it can better evaluate the factors that lead to accidents and recommend safety improvements to the Federal Aviation Administration, which oversees the industry. Specifically, the issues to be discussed include: operational structure and models, flight operations, aircraft safety equipment, training, and oversight.

The board invites members of the EMS community, including RNs, to make submissions related to the safety of the industry. Although these submissions might not be directly addressed as exhibits at the hearing, they will be made available to the public and may be considered in any future deliberations regarding safety improvements. Submissions received by Jan. 13 will be considered by the chairman of the board of inquiry to determine whether they will be used as hearing exhibits. Subsequent submissions will be accepted until Feb. 28. Materials should be submitted to NTSB, Ms. Lorenda Ward, Hearing Officer; 490 L'Enfant Plaza East, SW; Washington, DC 20594, or they may be submitted electronically to HEMS@ntsb.gov.