Health ministry signs pact to train doctor helicopter pilots in police simulators

The health ministry signed a work agreement Wednesday with the Seoul Regional Aviation Office and the Police Human Resources Development Institute to strengthen doctor helicopter pilot capabilities through simulator training.

Under the deal, emergency medical pilots will utilize police flight simulation devices to practice responding to crises. The institutions agreed to share technical data on airworthiness, support maintenance of emergency medical equipment kits, and designate police facilities for official training. The collaboration aims to prevent aviation accidents during the transport of critically ill patients.

Lee Joong-kyu, public healthcare policy officer at the health ministry, said the three agencies would combine expertise to support safer flights and patient transfers. "We will gather the expertise of each agency to enhance the crisis response capabilities of doctor helicopter pilots, support safer operations and patient transfers, and protect the lives of our citizens," Lee said.

Jeon Hyeong-pil, head of the Seoul Regional Aviation Office, added that the partnership would enhance pilot responses to abnormal weather. "Through this agreement, we will strengthen the ability of doctor helicopter pilots to respond to abnormal situations such as bad weather and conduct joint safety inspections with the Ministry of Health and Welfare to raise flight safety," Jeon said. He noted the office would also provide air safety information and airworthiness technical data.

Park Hyun-soo, chief of the Police Human Resources Development Institute, said his agency would leverage its infrastructure to improve the crisis management skills of medical pilots. "We will actively utilize the excellent flight simulation training infrastructure of the Police Human Resources Development Institute for public purposes to enhance the practical crisis response capabilities of doctor helicopter pilots and contribute to public safety," Park said.

The three agencies plan to continue exchanging pilot education, training, and aviation safety information to create an environment where critically ill patients can be transported more safely.