Managing In-Flight Emergencies in the Age of Advanced Air Mobility – SM4 Safety News from Global Aerospace

By 2030, the global eVTOL aircraft market will transport 27 million passengers. Some vehicles will have a single pilot, while others will operate remotely or autonomously with only civilian passengers. Therefore, the companies commercialising this space have a duty of care to their employees and customers to ensure the safety of all on board.

Our health histories follow us when we travel. In fact, each year, 48,000 in-flight medical emergencies occur. When these medical incidents arise, the care provided in the first 15 minutes is critical to determining the event’s outcome. After stabilisation, the time to receive medical care is vital in the victim’s recovery.

Operators are familiar with the limitations of jet and prop aircraft, but these new vessels add new variables that can impact managing an in-flight medical event. eVTOL aircraft are currently designed to carry up to 10 passengers, may or may not have professional staff onboard and have a limited range or duration of time they can travel.

MEDICAL INCIDENTS THAT MAY OCCUR
The risk can vary from a mere inconvenience to a life-threatening situation. Trivial events are not uncommon and need to be stabilised so they don’t evolve into serious ones. The more serious the event, the greater the chance it will disrupt your operation and passengers.

Based on hundreds of thousands of in-flight medical cases, issues like gastrointestinal and respiratory concerns, loss of consciousness, stroke and cardiac arrest are the most common. Therefore, special considerations need to be planned to address those medical risks.

Essential questions to ask about in-flight medical events include:

• How would CPR be administered if there is no floor space for the passenger to lay on?
• Is the medical kit or AED easy to access for all passengers?
• Is it safe for passengers to move about the cabin space while the aircraft is airborne?
• Would the conditions inside the cabin put the person providing aid in danger?

PREPARING FOR IN-FLIGHT MEDICAL…