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Medevac report is released
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
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ANNAPOLIS — Lawmakers are preparing recommendations for Maryland's medevac helicopter program just as a review panel has released its final report.
The panel, composed of seven experts nationwide, restated its earlier recommendations that the state might need fewer helicopters and make fewer flights.
The experts also said Maryland State Police should use commercial flight rules, which could mean the aircraft would fly less in bad weather. And the choppers should fly with two paramedics instead of one.
The scrutiny follows the Sept. 27 crash of a state police helicopter that was flying two accident victims. Four people, including three Charles County residents, died.
In his budget, Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) included $40 million to buy two new helicopters. The state Department of Transportation released a request for proposals in January.
House Speaker Michael E. Busch (D-Anne Arundel) convened a group of 14 delegates to examine issues surrounding helicopters earlier in the session. Del. Guy Guzzone (D-Howard) said the recommendations could be available this week.
As part of its study, the legislators heard alternatives to having the state police operate the program — possibly having private companies take over medevac flights or having some kind of hybrid, Guzzone said.
"Our job is to review conceptually all that," he said.
