Benefis Mercy Flight - Non-injury incident

Date: 11/13/08 1056 MST

Program: Benefis Mercy Flight
	1101 26th Street South
	Great Falls, MT  59405

Type: AS 350 B2
Tail #: N911GF
Operator/Vendor: Metro Aviation, Inc.

Weather: Clear. Not a factor

Team: Pilot, Flight Nursse, and Flight Paramedic. No injuries reported. No patient. 

Description: 
	While returning from a scene call at 1056 hrs, flying 4200 ft (800
	AGL) approximately 2 KM south of highway and local Air Force base, RW
	was forced to take evasive maneuver for an unannounced military RW
	leaving local Air Force base.  At the time crew was searching for 3rd
	helicopter on their 0800 that ATC was tracking and notified to Mercy
	Flight.  FAA then abruptly announced the presence of the unidentified
	military aircraft.  Looking forward the crew saw the ?huey? less than
	1 KM and closing.  With visual contact, evasive maneuvers were
	implemented and the two aircraft passed approximately within 100
	meters of one another.  
	
	Once the two aircraft were safely out of range of one another the
	military RW questioned ATC as to why the medical helicopter was within
	?their? airspace.  Further communications were completed once all
	aircraft had completed their missions.  
	
	

Additional Info: 
	Post flight debrief conducted with lead RW pilot, FAA, and military
	authorities.  Confirmed that there is no specific military controlled
	airspace within the TRSA of Great Falls and that all aircraft
	(including military) must announce their presence and operation within
	the TRSA to ATC.  

Source: Scott Schandelson, Chief Flight Nurse

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information with your program staff. If you have further questions, please
contact the CONCERN Coordinator, David Kearns at 800 525 3712 or email:
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