NinerThreeKilo Posted August 16, 2011 Posted August 16, 2011 Hey, first time poster, and a new student in a EMT/EMT-P program! A little background on me, I'm a happily employed commercial pilot and flight instructor. I dont fly for any big airlines nor do I have a desire to, I'm more of what one would refer to as a bush pilot (float planes and the odd looking planes with the little wheel in the back), I also WAS a volunteer firefighter for 2 years while I was in college, never got my FF1 though I have found with my new job that after 5pm I'm free, I have always thought that I would enjoy being a EMT-P, since we have a local community college that is offering a 18mo EMT-P program for next to nothing with financial aid, I figured I would be a fool not to utilize my down time and do this! The plan is to keep my day job so to speak (as I dont know what I would do with myself if I wasn't flying) and earn my EMT-P on my post 5pm downtime, after I get my EMT-P try to pick up shifts that work with my flight schedule. Ideally I would like to find a job after I get my EMT-P flying something fun (and not a chopper) where I can combine my new found Paramedic skills with a pilot job. So aside from hitting the books hard, any tips on this new journey of mine??? Thanks, 93K
ERDoc Posted August 16, 2011 Posted August 16, 2011 It will be almost impossible to find a job that will let you be a pilot AND an medic. It's generally going to have to be one or the other. Most pilot jobs are for rotorheads so that is out. There are fixed wing transport companies that mostly operate under part 135. You will probably need ME time.
NinerThreeKilo Posted August 16, 2011 Author Posted August 16, 2011 (edited) It will be almost impossible to find a job that will let you be a pilot AND an medic. It's generally going to have to be one or the other. Most pilot jobs are for rotorheads so that is out. There are fixed wing transport companies that mostly operate under part 135. You will probably need ME time. I was figuring that, I'll have my ATP knocked out shortly however, like you said, not too many Paramedic 180s, PA18s or DHC2s around. So looks like I will end up working nights as a EMT-P and fly during the days?? Edited August 16, 2011 by NinerThreeKilo
paramedicmike Posted August 16, 2011 Posted August 16, 2011 Not if those night shifts eat into your mandated crew rest times.
Richard B the EMT Posted August 16, 2011 Posted August 16, 2011 At the start of last year's TV season in the US, there was a show called "Trauma", which was lambasted on numerous levels on the EMT City, including myself, for inaccuracies, disobediance to On Line Medical Control orders, and behavior that no EMS employer of any of the City's residents would tolerate, no matter what the viable save rate. If TV's MASH doctors "Trapper" John McEntire, Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce, BJ Hunnicut, Margaret "HotLips" Houlihan, and Sherman T Potter were real, with all the shenanigans they pulled, even they would be upset with the ambulance and medivac crews depicted on "Trauma". About the only accuracy noted was, the lady pilot of the medivac helo was cross trained as an EMT-Basic, to assist the (nutcase) Paramedic she was assigned with, on the ground with a patient. (A mention here. I'm being kind. Others on this site would draw and quarter the show)
ERDoc Posted August 17, 2011 Posted August 17, 2011 The few helicopter services I've had contact with, the pilot never left the helicopter, ever.
Kiwiology Posted August 17, 2011 Posted August 17, 2011 Stay as a pilot mate, trust me on this one Kiwi, CPL-MEL©, BAv(Man),
Richard B the EMT Posted August 17, 2011 Posted August 17, 2011 The few helicopter services I've had contact with, the pilot never left the helicopter, ever.How big were the Medivac Helo crews? The TV depiction I referenced was a pilot and one Paramedic. Oh, by the way, if the NYPD runs a Medivac flight, it is usually the pilot, an observer, and an EMT or Paramedic borrowed from a ground ambulance accompanying the patient. Most of the Medivac flights I have seen, or heard about, using an NYPD helo, a ground ambulance crew was usually already on the scene, or bringing the patient to the aircraft. This included the rare IFT flights from some hospital's heli-pad, to another, "specialty" hospital. OK editing problem. Standard NYPD crew is a pilot, and an observer.
paramedicmike Posted August 17, 2011 Posted August 17, 2011 Crew make up varies depending on where you are. Nurse/paramedic is pretty common. Nurse/Nurse and Nurse/RT are also standards crew members in some areas. The place I fly for crews a non-EMS trained pilot, RN, paramedic. All the services in the area use that same make up. Pilots do not usually leave the aircraft, although will on occasion depending on the need for weather checks, coffee or bathroom breaks. They will not get out of the aircraft if the engines are running and rotors are turning.
chbare Posted August 18, 2011 Posted August 18, 2011 We also fly paramedic/RN. Our PIC's have absolutely no patient contact save for helping load on occasion. Often, the PIC will know nothing about the patient medically except weight unless safety issues are identified. Take care, chbare.
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