FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — Seven air ambulance companies have agreed to make changes in how pilots communicate with each other as they approach a Flagstaff hospital.
The changes come as a result of the June 2008 mid-air collision of two medical helicopters that killed seven over the skies of Flagstaff.
The changes include well-defined approach paths laid out miles before Flagstaff Medical Center and a schedule for radio broadcasts on an assigned frequency intended for other pilots operating in the area to announce their exact location, estimated time of arrival, and route being used.
Federal findings on the possible causes of the 2008 crash centered on communications protocols that either were not followed by dispatchers and pilots or that did not provide an adequate safety margin.
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Information from: Arizona Daily Sun, http://www.azdailysun.com/
