Critical care paramedics to undergo helicopter flight simulator training for the first time

Cornwall Air Ambulance’s critical care paramedics are going one step further with their training to embrace simulated learning in an exact replica of the helicopter they use to assist the pilot with navigation, hazard perception and identifying suitable landing sites.

The pilots already undertake this training by visiting Leonardo Helicopters Training Academy in Italy, so having the specialist paramedics join them on an annual or two-yearly basis is an important step forward to enhance their skills as Technical Crew Members (TCM).

The scenario based training involves practising various emergency situations, and working to identify then solve potential problems that could occur during flight. The mock scenarios provide the chance to put the TCM’s knowledge into practice in a safe environment. TCMs sit on the front left-hand side of the cockpit and assist the pilot with navigation, hazard perception and in identifying suitable landing sites.

“For example, we would be simulating flying to a mission when a training incident will be initiated by the examiner controlling the simulator, with the real-time hazard warning captions flashing and audible alerts coming through the headsets.

“You must identify what the issue is by looking through the emergency action cards and reading them through to the pilot, so they can act accordingly. We ran through scenarios such as an engine fire, engine failure and rooftop helipad landings at hospitals, essentially all the things you can’t normally practice due to health and safety.”
Pete Storer, TCM, Cornwall Air Ambulance.

Pete Storer is the first Cornwall Air Ambulance TCM to attend the simulator training. He explained that in the simulator, the trainee gets to go through the actions with all the realistic sounds and aircraft movements, and see how much work is really involved.

“It’s also good to see the pilots in action in these scenarios, and to appreciate the levels of effort and stress there is for them during all the procedures. There is so much going on at one time, with all the audible warnings going off, the screens flashing a mix of red and amber warning captions, each with its own particular response required, while at the same time you’ve got to fly the helicopter.”

Over the course of the year, all the paramedics will be visiting the simulator to further their training.

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