AirCARE1, a US Part 135 air ambulance and medical escort service provider, has received Federal Aviation Administration recognition of an accepted safety management system (SMS) programme, establishing its formal alignment with international safety standards. While the United States does not yet have a mandated SMS for Part 135 operators, the FAA recognises those organisations who have voluntarily made the effort to implement an accepted programme. An FAA-accepted safety management system is also recognised by the International Civil Aviation Organisation.

AirCARE1 is among roughly five per cent of Part 135 operators who currently have an FAA-accepted SMS programme.

Its existence originated from the need for higher safety standards in the air ambulance industry. Therefore, AirCARE1 has made safety risk management a cornerstone of the company's values and is foundational to its everyday culture. To demonstrate its commitment to safety risk management, AirCARE1 chose to implement a voluntary safety management system programme (SMSVP) that could be recognised by a state authority.

AirCARE1 is committed to providing superior care and believes that the key factor in doing so is to create a safe environment for patients, their family members and employees.

A safety management system programme is a formal, systematic and proactive approach to managing safety risk. It's a structured process implemented across an organisation that includes four main components including policy, risk management, assurance and promotion.

To be accepted by the FAA, AirCARE1 went through a 16-month evaluation period of its safety practices. During this period AirCARE1 defined its safety objectives and the responsibilities of its employees in regard to safety risk management. It controlled safety risks by identifying hazards and analysing risk factors to make improvements to flight operations. It ensured the effectiveness of safety risk controls through consistent data collection and analysis. Finally, AirCARE1 demonstrated how staff are trained in safety risk management and invited to openly communicate safety concerns to support the safety culture within the company.

There are many benefits for AirCARE1 and the patients it transports in aligning its SMS with the FAA's SMS voluntary programme. Most importantly, the main goal is to foster the safety culture within the company and support a proactive approach to identifying and addressing problems before they occur. For patients, AirCARE1's commitment to safety risk management provides an extra level of comfort and peace of mind, giving them increased confidence that the company operates to the highest safety standards. Finally, FAA recognition allows AirCARE1 to recruit high-calibre staff members who are equally dedicated to contributing to the company's safety culture and provide its patients with superior care.

With a fleet of Learjet air ambulance aircraft based out of Deer Valley Airport in Phoenix, Arizona, AirCARE1 provides air medical transport to patients across North, South and Central America. AirCARE1's believes that providing the highest level of medical attention with compassion and a holistic approach will transform the flight experience for their patients.