Leonardo and AAROI-EMAC sign agreement on helicopter emergency medical service

Helicopter manufacturer Leonardo has announced the signing of a co-operation agreement between and AAROI-EMAC, an Italian association representing over 10,000 critical care anaesthetists, was recently signed in Vergiate, in Italy. Among the objectives is ‘the implementation of scientific, technical and organisational developments in the delicate and fundamental healthcare sectors in which they operate’, said Leonardo. The firm said the non-profit agreement was signed in order to develop synergies for higher levels of operational capability and safety for helicopter emergency medical personnel.

The agreement, renewable for five years, includes the development of a dedicated training centre, incorporating AAROI-EMAC’s Centre for Research, Training and Upgrading (SimuLearn). The organisations hope to create a national certificate for helicopter rescue personnel.

Synergies agreed between Leonardo and AAROI-EMAC will also provide guidelines analysing and optimising HEMS work, taking into account, for example, the development of satellite-assisted navigation or flight in icing conditions, said the manufacturer. The organisations hope to publish scientifically validated data of EMS-dedicated protocols to improve hospital systems, which are already developing according to the hub-spoke model, said Leonardo. After defining a national standard, Leonardo and AAROI-EMAC will present this internationally, particularly in Europe, building on the extensive experience and the variety of conditions and requirements characterising helicopter operations in Italy, contributing to the potential development of a European standard and becoming a model for countries interested in developing their own helicopter rescue service, said the firm.

The collaboration agreement follows an agreement between Leonardo and the National Alpine and Speleological Rescue Corps (CNSAS) announced in December 2016.

Prof. Franco Marinangeli, scientific director of the EMAC-AAROI SimuLearn Center, said: “AAROI-EMAC has been performing training and professional development activities for many years [including] with simulation tools, allowing hundreds of doctors to attend classes with advanced teaching methods and up-to-date topics. The collaboration with Leonardo improves our training initiatives and allows the Center’s instructors to collaborate in a sector of primary relevance.”

Dr Alessandro Vergallo, national president of AAROI-EMAC, commented: “HEMS doctors are almost entirely anaesthetists and first responders. Such are the skills and competencies needed to work in this field that specific university and hospital training is a must-have. The everyday experience on the most critical patients is invaluable and shouldn’t be replaced by generalist and economical solutions. This agreement is therefore an important opportunity to keep our country’s helicopter-based critical care system adapted to the real and concrete needs of the population, both today and in the future.”

Daniele Romiti, managing director of Leonardo Helicopter, said: “We are convinced that synergies like the one born today through this agreement will provide a vital contribution because industry and organisations alike need to work together joining their professionalism and skills. We are ready to work together soon towards the achievement of the first important results from this co-operation."