How To File MedeVac

EminiTrader

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I am doing my first MedeVac flight later tonight and I am not sure how to file. Do I just put "MEDEVAC" in the remarks section on FltPlan.com - or is there a procedure I should know about?
 
Just put Medivac under remarks.

And use Medivac in your calls.

And how do you know you are going to do a flight.?? I always had to wait for the phone to ring, then race to the airport.
 
For one, this should have been covered in indoc and training and IOE

For two medevac is the correct term.

For three, put MEDEVAC in the remarks section and also select MEDEVAC for STS special handling (may require looking in the settings of your flight planning program/site), though I’ve had a few controllers tell me that they couldn’t see what was in the STS section.

You are medevac when you’re going to get a patient, and when enroute with the patient, DO NOT use medevac for your empty leg relocating back to base, or when you are not on a call.

ALWAYS use it in when you talk on the radio “Medevac N123” and don’t be afraid to remind people you’re medevac if you don’t think you’re getting priority or require anything special, I’ve been number 2 for a approach and been told to expect a couple laps in the hold and reminded ATC of my status and got number 1 and the other guy put into the hold, I’ve also been cleared through restricted areas and shut a few ranges down while I passed through.

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Also, you know a medevac is NOT the same as a angel flight for anything like that right?
Medevac is like you have a stretcher and medics and nurses in the back of the plane and are meet up with ambulances at the airports.
 
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Me thinks the OP is flying someone that’s ill, on a private flight, and calling it MEDEVAC. If one is flying Part 135 Air Ambulance, this definitely would have been covered in new hire and OJT.

That was the same vibe I got
Flying a stable walking, talking person for a cancer treatment or something IS NOT medevac IMO

4–2–4 Aircraft Call Signs
b. Air Ambulance Flights.


Because of the priority afforded air ambulance flights in the ATC system, extreme discretion is necessary when using the term “MEDEVAC.” It is only intended for those missions of an urgent medical nature and to be utilized only for that portion of the flight requiring expeditious handling. When requested by the pilot, necessary notification to expedite ground handling of patients, etc., is provided by ATC; however, when possible, this information should be passed in advance through non-ATC communications systems.

1. Civilian air ambulance flights responding to medical emergencies (first call to an accident scene, carrying patients, organ donors, organs, or other urgently needed lifesaving medical material) will be expedited by ATC when necessary. When expeditious handling is necessary, include the word “MEDEVAC” in the flight plan per paragraphs 5-1-8 and 5-1-9. In radio communications, use the call sign “MEDEVAC,” followed by the aircraft registration letters/numbers.

Example: MEDEVAC Two Six Four Six.

2. Similar provisions have been made for the use of “AIR EVAC” and “HOSP” by air ambulance flights, except that these flights will receive priority handling only when specifically requested.

3. Air carrier and air taxi flights responding to medical emergencies will also be expedited by ATC when necessary. The nature of these medical emergency flights usually concerns the transportation of urgently needed lifesaving medical materials or vital organs. It is imperative that the company/pilot determine, by the nature/urgency of the specific medical cargo, if priority ATC assistance is required.Pilots must include the word “MEDEVAC” in the flight plan per paragraphs 5-1-8 and 5-1-9, and use the call sign “MEDEVAC” followed by the company name and flight number for all transmissions when expeditious handling is required. It is important for ATC to be aware of “MEDEVAC” status, and it is the pilot’s responsibility to ensure that this information is provided to ATC.

Example: MEDEVAC Delta Thirty-Seven.”
 
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That was the same vibe I got
Flying a stable walking, talking person for a cancer treatment or something IS NOT medevac IMO

4–2–4 Aircraft Call Signs
b. Air Ambulance Flights.


Because of the priority afforded air ambulance flights in the ATC system, extreme discretion is necessary when using the term “MEDEVAC.” It is only intended for those missions of an urgent medical nature and to be utilized only for that portion of the flight requiring expeditious handling. When requested by the pilot, necessary notification to expedite ground handling of patients, etc., is provided by ATC; however, when possible, this information should be passed in advance through non-ATC communications systems.

1. Civilian air ambulance flights responding to medical emergencies (first call to an accident scene, carrying patients, organ donors, organs, or other urgently needed lifesaving medical material) will be expedited by ATC when necessary. When expeditious handling is necessary, include the word “MEDEVAC” in the flight plan per paragraphs 5-1-8 and 5-1-9. In radio communications, use the call sign “MEDEVAC,” followed by the aircraft registration letters/numbers.

Example: MEDEVAC Two Six Four Six.

2. Similar provisions have been made for the use of “AIR EVAC” and “HOSP” by air ambulance flights, except that these flights will receive priority handling only when specifically requested.

3. Air carrier and air taxi flights responding to medical emergencies will also be expedited by ATC when necessary. The nature of these medical emergency flights usually concerns the transportation of urgently needed lifesaving medical materials or vital organs. It is imperative that the company/pilot determine, by the nature/urgency of the specific medical cargo, if priority ATC assistance is required.Pilots must include the word “MEDEVAC” in the flight plan per paragraphs 5-1-8 and 5-1-9, and use the call sign “MEDEVAC” followed by the company name and flight number for all transmissions when expeditious handling is required. It is important for ATC to be aware of “MEDEVAC” status, and it is the pilot’s responsibility to ensure that this information is provided to ATC.

Example: MEDEVAC Delta Thirty-Seven.”

Yep. Simple ambulatory illness would be more like an Angel Flight / Commpassion Flight and not air ambulance criteria.

That situation can develop into a medical emergency after takeoff but in that case, they would need to declare an emergency and not use “MEDEVAC” with ATC. They'd also have some explaining to do with the FSDO if indeed their patient turned into an emergency.
 
Me thinks the OP is flying someone that’s ill, on a private flight, and calling it MEDEVAC. If one is flying Part 135 Air Ambulance, this definitely would have been covered in new hire and OJT.
Me thinks you are 100 percent wrong. No surprise there. It's an on demand 135 carrier - just wasn't sure how to file it as I could not for the life of me find the MEDEVAC on FltPlan - probably as I was using the app. It's also a VERY small company so it was not covered. So yes, it was 100 percent legal "that's how us ME's do it". We got the call minutes before I posed the question.

I didn't see the responses until this morning so thanks all. I was told by ARTCC (that I called last night) ARTCC told me the simplest way is to put "L" in front of your tail so "LN123CD" and they know automatically - and it worked. Thanks again gang. Long night - going back to bed :)
 
Wouldn't that be part of your company training ?
I'm guessing it should have been - it wasn't. WE don't typically do them. We got a call and we took it. Ya gotta love POA - ask a question - but put on a flame suit first :) you guys rock.
 
I'm guessing it should have been - it wasn't. WE don't typically do them. We got a call and we took it. Ya gotta love POA - ask a question - but put on a flame suit first :) you guys rock.

Not your fault. DO or chief pilots fault.
 
Me thinks you are 100 percent wrong. No surprise there. It's an on demand 135 carrier - just wasn't sure how to file it as I could not for the life of me find the MEDEVAC on FltPlan - probably as I was using the app. It's also a VERY small company so it was not covered. So yes, it was 100 percent legal "that's how us ME's do it". We got the call minutes before I posed the question.

I didn't see the responses until this morning so thanks all. I was told by ARTCC (that I called last night) ARTCC told me the simplest way is to put "L" in front of your tail so "LN123CD" and they know automatically - and it worked. Thanks again gang. Long night - going back to bed :)

The fact that they didn’t cover this very simple but very important aspect of the job should give you pause

I take it you didn’t get any IOE with a experienced pilot?!


I know no one we hire didn’t know this by the time they hit the line, I also know it’s not us because we arnt exactly small. But there is a good amount of bent metal in the industry, skimping on training in any aviation industry, but especially in medevac, is a recipe for not having a good time
 
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Tin foil brigade in full effect......... expect nothing less on PoA. At least you didn't ask if running LOP was a good idea don that flight. It would be a cage match!
 
Me thinks you are 100 percent wrong. No surprise there. It's an on demand 135 carrier - just wasn't sure how to file it as I could not for the life of me find the MEDEVAC on FltPlan - probably as I was using the app. It's also a VERY small company so it was not covered. So yes, it was 100 percent legal "that's how us ME's do it". We got the call minutes before I posed the question.

I didn't see the responses until this morning so thanks all. I was told by ARTCC (that I called last night) ARTCC told me the simplest way is to put "L" in front of your tail so "LN123CD" and they know automatically - and it worked. Thanks again gang. Long night - going back to bed :)

Well, it is a surprise here that you didn’t receive proper training in a mission that your company flys.

https://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Notice/N7110.606.pdf
 
Well, it is a surprise here that you didn’t receive proper training in a mission that your company flys.

https://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Notice/N7110.606.pdf
Well my first "real" job flying airplanes so still learning. Funny thing is just a few years ago I was just trying to fly for fun - now everyone wants me to fly around for them.... It's still fun though. In any event now I know better.... Add the "L" to the tail number and VOILA.....
 
Well my first "real" job flying airplanes so still learning. Funny thing is just a few years ago I was just trying to fly for fun - now everyone wants me to fly around for them.... It's still fun though. In any event now I know better.... Add the "L" to the tail number and VOILA.....

Your first job is medevac?!

Our mins are nearly double ATP mins

This sounds like one of those operations that is the reason the feds keep writing more and more FARs for us
 
Well my first "real" job flying airplanes so still learning. Funny thing is just a few years ago I was just trying to fly for fun - now everyone wants me to fly around for them.... It's still fun though. In any event now I know better.... Add the "L" to the tail number and VOILA.....


Reason I have been seriously considering finishing my commercial. Problem is, I make too much now to make it a career. But piece work sounds interesting.
 
WE don't typically do them. We got a call and we took it.

I just have to ask, was the patient packaged in a medical life package with IVs, oxygen and monitor on a stretcher with a flight nurse and flight medic and all their equipment and meds?

Medevacs are not something thrown together quickly, but are dedicated planes and dedicated flight crews. It is about patient care first, not money.
 
Use prefix "lifeguard" for expedited handling from ATC.

Lifeguard was changed to medevac several years ago. And the day it changed.... I totally forgot and called myself lifeguard when checking in with center. He reminded me in a long winded way that it is now medevac. How embarrassing....:blush::blush:
 
If your patient was ambulatory and just had a doc/nurse traveling with you I don’t think you should have filed as lifeguard. Real medivac aircraft look like an ER in the back.
 
In my experience, no one lives very long doing medevac flights so why bother with learning the rules?
They can't even agree how to spell medivac/medevac. If anyone hassles you, tell them you were flying the other spelling, so you had different rules.
 
In my experience, no one lives very long doing medevac flights so why bother with learning the rules?
They can't even agree how to spell medivac/medevac. If anyone hassles you, tell them you were flying the other spelling, so you had different rules.

You are joking right lol
 
If your patient was ambulatory and just had a doc/nurse traveling with you I don’t think you should have filed as lifeguard. Real medivac aircraft look like an ER in the back.

Lifeguard went bye bye in 2012. If it’s approved in their OpSpecs (A021/024), they can perform air ambulance and use the “MEDEVAC” call sign. At a bare minimum they have to have an aircraft with a litter, O2, and suction. Obviously the OpSpecs will outline training, policy, procedures etc for that operation. 135.600 series for the helo folks as well.

A 135 operation can transport a patient without an air ambulance cert but that is only under an emergency, no other air ambulance asset available and only a life threatening situation. Gotta notify the FSDO afterwards as well.
 
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If someone has lived long enough to retire as a medivac pilot, please let us know.
 
If someone has lived long enough to retire as a medivac pilot, please let us know.

I know like 3 that retired over the last few years.

Lots who are old enough to get the Denny’s discount

How many years did you fly medevac?

And there is no agreeing on the spelling it’s in the FAR lol
Medical Evacuation —> Med Evac —> MEDEVAC
 
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Me? Homey don't do medevac.
But as a pastor I've done funerals for 9 crews in 17 years.
 
Me? Homey don't do medevac.
But as a pastor I've done funerals for 9 crews in 17 years.

So you don’t know what you’re talking about, I’ve responded to a few car crashes where the people were wearing pants vs shorts, does that mean wearing pants and driving is a death wish?
 
Me? Homey don't do medevac.
But as a pastor I've done funerals for 9 crews in 17 years.

On average there are a bit over 8 Fatal Medical Helicopter crashes per year. We'll round up to 9 for our calculations. If I am not mistaken, a conservative estimate on the number of pastors with a congregation in the US is about 100,000. I don't know how big your congregation is, so I have to assume it is of median size. I am also assuming an even distribution of medical helicopter crews across those congregations, and that each crew will have a funeral performed by a pastor. That would mean in 17 years, you would have had about a 1 in 650 chance of performing a funeral for a single crew. The chances of you performing funerals for 9 crews in 17 years is .00000000000000000000000000000000003% Another way to look at it is that you somehow performed 1 in 17, or 6% of the funerals for the crews of all fatal medical helicopter accidents nationwide.

In contrast, there are about 300 GA fatal crashes per year. So if your distribution is the same, you would have done about 33 GA funerals per year, or about 300 in your 17 years. You must be busy.

Perhaps your congregation is massive, or maybe you are just bad luck. Either way, it is hardly worth making the absurd comments that you are about Medevac pilots.
 
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I had 5 medevac crews in my congregation between 1999 and 2010.Three of them are dead. Because of my involvement with aviation, and being a military chaplain, I knew MANY more crews, civilian and military, around the country, and as a result I traveled to many other states to do funerals over the years. BTW, Whenever I traveled anywhere to do a funeral, baptism or wedding for a member of the military, or fire, or rescue, I did it out of pocket. I never collected a salary or expense money for being a pastor, just in case you wanted to accuse me of profiteering.
 
I don't think the OP was doing a HEMS scene flight. This sounds like a fixed wing on-demand charter where the pax happened to be sick.
 
On average there are a bit over 8 Fatal Medical Helicopter crashes per year. We'll round up to 9 for our calculations. If I am not mistaken, a conservative estimate on the number of pastors with a congregation in the US is about 100,000. I don't know how big your congregation is, so I have to assume it is of median size. I am also assuming an even distribution of medical helicopter crews across those congregations, and that each crew will have a funeral performed by a pastor. That would mean in 17 years, you would have had about a 1 in 650 chance of performing a funeral for a single crew. The chances of you performing funerals for 9 crews in 17 years is .00000000000000000000000000000000003% Another way to look at it is that you somehow performed 1 in 17, or 6% of the funerals for the crews of all fatal medical helicopter accidents nationwide.

In contrast, there are about 300 GA fatal crashes per year. So if your distribution is the same, you would have done about 33 GA funerals per year, or about 300 in your 17 years. You must be busy.

Perhaps your congregation is massive, or maybe you are just bad luck. Either way, it is hardly worth making the absurd comments that you are about Medevac pilots.

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I don't think the OP was doing a HEMS scene flight. This sounds like a fixed wing on-demand charter where the pax happened to be sick.

Not sure that’s how FW EMS works lol
 
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Not sure that’s how FW EMS works lol
I don’t think @weilke was referring to all FW just the op. I happen to agree. I don’t think this was a legit air ambulance flight. If the op has air ambulance in their opspecs at all, I don’t think they should from the way the operation has been represented in this thread.
 
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