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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Questions
- Who decides if Bayflite will accept a flight and how?
- What are the weather requirements for Bayflite to fly?
- Can patients go to any hospital?
- How does Bayflite receive requests for patient transport?
- Can family come too?
- What does "stand-by" mean?
- Who flies on the helicopters?
- Who pays for the Flight?
- Is Bayflite affiliated with other flight programs?
- Does Bayflite provide other community services?
Answers
- Who decides if Bayflite will accept a flight and how?
The Pilot in Command (PIC), who is on duty for the aircraft being requested, makes the decision to accept a flight.
The pilot has the absolute authority to accept or deny any flight due to weather. The flight crew operates under the principle of "three to go, one to say no," meaning that a flight can be declined by any one crew member.
Prior to a flight, the pilot will check weather conditions at the referring hospital/scene, the receiving hospital, and the flight path. If weather conditions on the radar are appropriate, the flight will be accepted by the pilot.
- What are the weather requirements for Bayflite to fly?
The weather minimums that are observed by Bayflite are more restrictive than Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) mandated flight minimums for aero-medical transport. This means that there are some flights that are turned down by Bayflite because they do not meet the weather minimums listed below, but would otherwise be acceptable by FAA guidelines. This is done to increase safety for the pilots, medical crew, and patients. Bayflite's weather minimums are depicted in the chart below, with a ceiling in feet and visibility in miles:
AREA Local Cross Country
Day 800-2 800-3
Night- *NVIS/**TAWS 800-3 1000-3
***Night- wo/NVIS/TAWS 1000-3 1000-5
*NVIS- Night Vision System
**TAWS-Terrain Awarness & Warning System
***Night flight without NVIS and TAWS systems operational weather minimums are higher due to added risk
- Can patients go to any hospital?
All patients transported by Bayflite from the scene of an accident or incident will be taken to the closest State Approved Trauma Center or Stroke Center. This is dictated by the Rules of the Department of Health, Chapter 64E-2, Florida Administrative Code, Emergency Medical Services. All patients requiring transportation from a Community Hospital to a Tertiary Care Center will be taken to the closest, appropriate facility as determined by the sending facility/physician.
- How does Bayflite receive requests for patient transport?
The process begins when a physician, EMT, police officer or other public official calls Bayflite and requests a helicopter for patient transport. The Communication Center pages out the nearest available aircraft.
- Can family come too?
Unfortunately, due to safety concerns, Bayflite does not take family members on board the aircraft. However, the flight crew will speak with the family to determine if they need directions to the receiving facility. The flight crew will also give the Bayflite Communication's Center telephone number for any questions, and take the family members contact numbers to provide a patient update upon arrival at the receiving facility.
- What does "stand-by" mean?
Bayflite and the LifeNet helicopters may be placed on stand by by a requesting agency. This means that the requesting agency has received information of a patient that potentially needs to be flown, but is not on-scene yet or has not completed a full evaluation.
Placing an aircraft on stand-by provides a heads up to the Communications Center, who will chart the location and check weather with the pilot on duty.
We encourage all 911 Centers to put us standby.
- Who flies on the helicopters?
There are three crew members on all flights: a pilot, a critical care flight nurse, and a critical care flight paramedic, all of whom have special and ongoing training. When needed, Bayflite also will supply specialty teams in Neonatal care from All Children's Hospital and St. Joseph Children's Hospital.
- Who pays for the Flight?
Bayflite bills a patient's insurance(s), if any, and the balance is billed directly to the patient.
- Is Bayflite affiliated with other flight programs?
Bayflite has close relations with other regional and state transport programs. A Mutual Aid program is in place to provide back up to Bayflite should all of their air craft be on other flights, or they require multiple aircraft to assist with a call.
- Does Bayflite provide other community services?
Bayflite assists with and provides continuing education training for medical professionals throughout the State. Bayflite provides yearly DOT Air Medical Crew Core Curriculum Training, and the Transport Nurse Advanced Trauma Course. Bayflite also works with Fire and EMS agencies to provide a Landing Zone Safety class that stresses working in and around the aircraft and working with the medical crew.
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