Human Factors and Helicopter Emergency Medical Services Landing Zone Training Considerations

Written By Bryan William Zollinger for Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and his peers in the Air Medical Transport Industry and for those who Manage, Operate, Own, and Govern the same.

Human Factors and Helicopter Emergency Medical Services Landing Zone Training Considerations

Bryan William Zollinger

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Human Factors in Aviation Safety

SFTY 320

Kenny Lake

October 02, 2012

Human Factors and Helicopter Emergency Medical Services Landing Zone Training Considerations

An understanding of various human factors and helicopter hazards are essential to ensure safe operations in the landing zones. Helicopters are able to land virtually anywhere due to the helicopters unique ability to take-off vertically and land vertically. However; the helicopters performance on that day and in those conditions are dependent on not only the load and local conditions one must note that when, man, or Liveware, is selecting and preparing a landing zone. (Federal Aviation Administration [FAA], 2010) Liveware, or Man, is at the Center of the Shell Model and is the most valuable and most flexible component in the system. (Hawkins, 1987, p. 132) Yet man is subject to many variations in his performance and suffers many limitations, most of which are now predictable in general terms. The Liveware component is the hub of the SHEL model of Human Factors. (Hawkins, 1987, Chapter 2)

Much of what you are about to read in this paper about landing zone safety considerations, is focused on the Man or Woman which are interchangeable and inferred when ever a human being is mentioned in an role or job description here in. Additionally; I understand this may be your first introduction to any helicopter subject matter so I will sight the sources and quote or summarize as much as possible. I have also emphasized, or even revisited many of these considerations to promote safety, educate, inform, and raise...