Beyond CAMTS: Strengthening Air Ambulance Selection Standards
- JMercier76
- Jun 4
- 2 min read
Updated: 15 hours ago
Introduction
The Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems (CAMTS) is widely recognized in the air ambulance industry. While CAMTS evaluates medical transport protocols, it does not rigorously assess pilot experience or operational safety records. Selecting a provider based solely on CAMTS accreditation overlooks critical aviation safety factors that directly impact flight risk.
CAMTS Accreditation: Strengths and Gaps
CAMTS provides valuable oversight for medical standards, crew training, and equipment requirements, ensuring compliance with best practices for patient transport. However, it lacks comprehensive evaluation in key aviation safety areas, including:
Pilot Experience: No minimum thresholds for total flight hours or time in type.
Carrier Incident & Accident History: No systematic review of past safety events.
Operational Control: Does not require third-party audits of flight operations.
While CAMTS certification ensures medical readiness, it does not guarantee aviation safety, making additional vetting essential.
Pilot Experience as a Safety Benchmark
Industry leaders such as Wyvern and ARGUS set minimum pilot experience thresholds that correlate with lower accident rates. Comparing their requirements:
Certification | Total Flight Time (PIC) | Time in Type (PIC) |
Wyvern Registered | 3,000 hours | 50 hours |
ARGUS Gold | 3,000 hours | 250 hours |
Higher time-in-type thresholds ensure pilots have adequate familiarity with the aircraft, reducing risks in high-stakes medical transport missions.
The Role of Carrier Incident & Accident History
Selecting an air ambulance provider should also include reviewing safety records through sources like:
FAA & NTSB Databases: Public records of incidents and accidents.
Third-Party Audits: ARGUS and Wyvern assess operational safety risks.
Insurance: Verify additional insureds and adequate insurance levels
A provider with multiple incidents and/or accidents - even if CAMTS-accredited - may pose a higher operational risk.
How a Qualified Broker Can Fill the Gaps
A qualified air ambulance broker plays a crucial role in filling the vetting gaps left by CAMTS accreditation. By leveraging aviation safety data, pilot experience benchmarks, and incident history, brokers provide a comprehensive risk assessment. Instead of relying solely on accreditation, they:
Verify pilot qualifications against industry standards using recognized platforms such as ARGUS and Wyvern.
Review historical safety records for accident trends.
Help buyers make more informed decisions.
Filling Information Gaps When a Carrier Does Not Utilize Wyvern or ARGUS:
Some operators may not participate in Wyvern or ARGUS safety programs, leaving gaps in pilot experience verification and incident and accident history analysis. A qualified broker can independently assess these factors, gathering data from FAA, NTSB CAROL, insurance records, and direct carrier disclosures to ensure a comprehensive safety review.
This adds a key oversight function for brokers in cases where formal auditing programs aren't in place. Let me know if you'd like to refine it further! Working with a broker provides an additional layer of safety by integrating medical transport standards with rigorous aviation vetting, ensuring clients select providers based on both medical capability and flight safety.
Conclusion
While CAMTS accreditation ensures medical quality, it is not a sufficient indicator of flight safety. Buyers should demand higher pilot experience thresholds, review carrier safety records, and utilize third-party audit platforms when available to ensure the highest level of air ambulance safety. A qualified broker provides the necessary oversight, filling gaps where accreditation
falls short. Contact us to get more information.
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