Who regulates the air ambulances?
The FAA regulates the operability of the air ambulances, the qualifications and responsibilities of the pilots and non-medical equipment. The AZ Department of Health Services regulates all medical aspects of an air ambulance including medical personnel licensing, equipment, level of care, medications and inspections. There are no laws or regulations regarding the specific flight patterns of air ambulances because they are non-scheduled, fly in various directions transporting patients to and from hospitals and must vary their path to adjust for other air traffic, tall buildings and weather conditions. They generally fly certain corridors over major arterial streets and freeways until they get in the proximity of the hospital where they are landing and taking off.
