US medical provider Air Methods has received a letter of acknowledgement from the FAA accepting its SMS. In the United States there are 1,977 Part 135 operators, and Air Methods is one of 21 to receive this recognition.

“At Air Methods, safety is our number one priority and the recognition by the FAA regarding our SMS programme is a significant accomplishment,” comments CEO JaeLynn Williams. “When you think about the complexity of our operations and what happens during a patient transport, the process of SMS is vital to bringing all those pieces together that make up a safe air medical transport mission. This is not a requirement of a Part 135 operator but to be among the one per cent of organisations to have achieved this level of SMS accreditation is outstanding. This is a testament to our level of commitment and innovation in the air medical safety environment.”

In line with the prevention of incidents and injuries, each Air Methods teammate is accountable for the performance of the organisation's SMS. SMS defines teammate responsibilities and standards to manage and control the risks inherent in its operations, be it in flight, the workplace, occupational health or environmental protection.

“We are proud of all that we have accomplished in our safety measures. Today we have joined an elite group of Part 135 operators to have progressed to this level of maturity,” says senior VP of safety Joe Resnik. “Building a safety culture isn't just building a department, it is the creation of a core attribute of every teammate that each of us embody safety. By maintaining the safety of each and every teammate, we not only increase and enhance our productivity, but we become the destination employer for the best in the industry.”

Air Methods is dedicated to continuous improvement of its safety programmes and culture, believing that its SMS programme is essential to continuous improvement and unparalleled protections for its crews and patients. This recognition is an accumulation of many years of effort and cooperation by Air Methods teammates and FAA employees.