ABSTRACT

An ambulance helicopter crash in late 1996, involving the death of four crewmembers, started a heated discussion in Norway regarding the future organisation of the Air Ambulance Service. Looking at the accident investigation reports following the crashes, nothing appeared to be wrong technically. Instead of technical failure, a cryptic cause factor, human factors, was posited as the main contributor to the crashes seeming to point an accusing finger at the pilots onboard. A brief retrospective glance reveals that the foundation of today's problems lie in the present organisational structure of the air ambulance service in Norway. The chapter shows how it relates to the problems encountered on selection and training criteria for the crew involved and also shows how these problems might have contributed to the tragic accidents Norway has experienced in the last decade.