The five-member National Transportation Safety Board had initially urged the Federal Aviation Administration to take steps to improve the safety of emergency medical helicopter flights back in January 2006.
The safety board wanted the FAA (web|news) to improve procedures for medical helicopters, to evaluate flight risks, require onboard crash-warning technology and set policies for securing weather updates.
At a meeting Tuesday, the safety board acknowledged that the FAA is working on the proposals, but not quickly enough. Over the past 11 months, nine emergency medical helicopters have crashed, killing 35 people.
By JOAN LOWY Associated Press Writer
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