Story ID: 
Life Flight Completes HAI Safety Program
By: Mark Huber
Caption: Air ambulance operation Life Flight has completed the Helicopter Association International's Accreditation Program of Safety. 
Word Count: 228
Air ambulance operator Life Flight Network of Aurora, Oregon, has completed the Helicopter Association International’s (HAI) Accreditation Program of Safety (HAI-APS). The HAI-APS was developed to help participating businesses fly to a higher standard of safety and professionalism, improve safety cultures, and reduce losses that result from avoidable accidents and incidents.

“In completing the HAI-APS accreditation, Life Flight Network demonstrates the commitment to safety that HAI hopes every company embraces,” said HAI president and CEO Matt Zuccaro. Life Flight Network is a not-for-profit air medical transport service with 25 bases throughout Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Montana.  

Life Flight earned helicopter mission-specific accreditation for helicopter air ambulance while also elevating its IS-BAO registration to Stage III. That is currently the highest level of IS-BAO certification and “verifies that safety management activities are fully integrated into an operator’s business and that a positive safety culture is being sustained.” 

To become HAI-APS accredited, participating companies must first demonstrate their operations follow internationally accepted standards of safety and professionalism for helicopter operations. The HAI-APS is a voluntary nonprofit program offered as a service to HAI regular operator members. “We are uncompromising in our adherence to the highest safety standards and committed to maintaining a culture of safety. Our accreditation by HAI is an illustration of this commitment,” said Life Flight CEO Michael Griffiths.