October 20, 2008 PAIP Drill

PAIP DRILL 20 October 2008 : 

PAIP DRILL 20 October 2008 UNC Air Care & Critical Care Ground Transport Services

Drill Objectives : 

Drill Objectives Test written PAIP program; Identify system strengths / weaknesses; Test internal / external communications; Improve communication between area flight programs; Instill / maintain a culture of safety.

Overall Goal… : 

Overall Goal… Create a realistic scenario by limiting knowledge of events and maintaining a safe environment for all those involved and limiting emotional distress of those indirectly involved. Maintain foresight of objectives as to not let the situation become something that it is not.

The Plan – TH-1 : 

The Plan – TH-1 PR placed in EMS Charts Safe LZ selected Crew briefed AM of Drill Tar Heel 1 (TH-1) Lifts for “PR” Position report given per normal Communications lost with TH-1

The Plan – Flight Watch : 

The Plan – Flight Watch Input PR into CAD Acknowledge TH-1 lifting for PR Flight follow in normal fashion Attempt to gain position report Follow PAIP for missing aircraft Accurately instruct searching aircraft to coordinates of last position, flight path, and possible position based on speed and direction

The Plan - DUKE : 

The Plan - DUKE Contact Duke Communications Center Request assistance Provide known destination Provide last known coordinates Provide calculated position based on time, speed, and flight path. Maintain communications with aircraft

Overdue Aircraft Plan : 

Overdue Aircraft Plan Right click and choose open in new tab or window.

Planning Issues Encountered : 

Planning Issues Encountered Wake Med initially willing to participate, but declined due to budgetary concerns. NC SHP Aviation Command declined due to financial concerns as well. Duke became only feasible choice for assistance. 27 hrs prior to drill, notified of 4-5 hr maintenance of TH-1. Lead Pilot contacted Mechanic to see feasibility of delaying maintenance. Decision to move drill to 0900 vs. 1000

DRILL TIMELINE : 

DRILL TIMELINE 0900 - TH-1 Dispatched for Danville PR 0907 - TH-1 Launched for PR 0913 - 1st Position report given (36 02.5, -79 07.6) (no audio clip) 0921 - VIPER COMMS – Pilot says, “Jason what’s that noise?” 0922 – Squelch 0923 – Call for position: MedControl and 123.05 0923 – VIPER and additional freq - attempt for position report 0923 – Radio Squelch 0925 – Simulcast for position 0926 – Attempt to call DeAnne E. (LZ Command) by cell phone (call goes to voicemail.) 0926 – Requested Danny Struick to come in to Flightwatch 0927 – Additional attempts at radio contact (no audio) 0927 - Contact Danville 911 – who sends crews to helipad 0927 – PAIP PLAN INITIATED and logged in FLOG (20 minutes since lift) 0928 – SIMULCAST (multiple frequencies) – Request for position/status 0929 – SIMULCAST – Request for position/status 0930 – Attempt to call DeAnne E. (LZ Command) by cell phone. 0930 – Contact Danville 911 to inquire if TH-1 has landed. 0923-0925 Automated reminder for communicator.

“I’ve got a problem…” : 

“I’ve got a problem…” 0931 – “I’ve got a problem” 0931 – SIMULCAST – Request for position/status 0931 – Request LeAnne R. (night RN) to call crew cells and pagers (simulated calls) 0931 – Overhead page Maggie O (Program Manager) to Flightwatch (brings Ricky A. (EMT Driver) for assistance) 0933 – AOPA Book requested from Pilot’s Quarters. 0934 – Ricky A. directed to answer phones 0935 – DUKE requested for available aircraft – advised none available. 0937 – Communicator requests LeAnne R. to contact Danville Airport (simulated call) 0937 – Wake Med Air Mobile contacted with request for aircraft for search Communications center may not have been briefed by their management regarding our drill and that they were not participating. All information passed along to Wake Med including: intended destination, last position report, predicted position based on ground speed and heading, and description. 0938 – DeAnne contacted FW on VIPER for ETA of TH-1 0939 – Air Methods OCC on phone, Unit #5 called in daily mileage, attempt contact 123.05, request info on Danville Airport. 0940 – Orange County and Caswell County EOCs to be contacted. 0942 – DRILL IDENTIFIED, remaining calls simulated. Aircraft located on paper. 0943 – Jeff S. (Division Director) text paged, Wake Med Cancelled, 0945 – LZ Command contacted by Maggie (intention if drill was continuing.) 0945 – Wake Med Air Mobile cancelled. Air Methods OCC

Immediate Thoughts/Concerns : 

Immediate Thoughts/Concerns Immediate debrief held following drill. Peds team members off the unit monitoring VIPER. Became concerned after hearing radio traffic (lack of response) and returned to 8th floor to offer assistance. Lead Pilot was requested into FW for assistance as well as previous nights adult RN. (Both privy to situation.) Total 3 additional team members in FW handling assigned tasks, no additional conversation; only appropriate to situation. RDU team unaware of situation, attempting radio traffic; requested to keep their own mileage and times; no reason given. Air Methods Operational Control Center - Communicators unaware this is a drill, management aware. CISM Offered due to reality of situation and recent industry events.

Immediate Thoughts/Concerns : 

Immediate Thoughts/Concerns General feelings… No complacency, PAIP immediately started per AirMethods standards. Communicator remained calm throughout event. Attempt to keep lead pilot calm when advising of situation. Overall feeling : drill objectives met, went well. System in place works, but needs minor modifications. Communicator, Peds Team, and RDU crew unaware drill was taking place. All additional staff were directed to handle tasks and did so without extraneous conversation. Crews dressed appropriately for egress.

Missed Items : 

Missed Items T-2, RDU crews not notified. RDU Crew on mission, not notified of events. MCO not notified. Division Director received 2x numeric pages, only responded after alpha page.

What has changed??? : 

What has changed??? “Code Air – Internal” added to Overdue Aircraft plan. “Flash Page” system to be set-up for instant communications for primary contact; secondary group to be added for extended incidents. 20 minute PAIP activation changed to 15 minutes.

Future Goals : 

Future Goals Possibility for drill at night vs day; Peds team vs adult team; Large scale drill involving local FD, program mechanics, etc. Additional training for EMTs to handle basic functions during incidents when a second communicator is unavailable.

THANK YOU : 

THANK YOU DeAnne Edwards and family, Danny Struick, LeAnne Reaves, Jason Clark, Mark Stover, Rex Bartles, Traci Hackney, Anita Crews, Ricky Ashley, Billy Wright

AND THE STAR OF THE SHOW : 

AND THE STAR OF THE SHOW YVETTE

QUESTIONS : 

QUESTIONS ? ? ? ?