Never heard of it, right?

You might even think I’m pulling your leg.

Honestly, I wish I was. I wish this entire post was just a tasteless joke written for my own amusement.

 But it’s not.

The truth is Small Landing Zone Syndrome is real, although I’m just now coining the term. I’ve watched it spread for years, slowly but surely infecting thousands of EMS Flight Safety Network air and ground crews.

Not just clueless beginners, either. Smart firefighters, smart flight crews, smart EMTs & paramedics across the globe, all working hard to create safe medical helicopter landing zones, all doing everything they should be.

Except… none of it works for them.

Not because they’ve made a mistake. Not because their choices suck. Not because they’re lazy.

When you first learn to fly

one of the very first things you’re taught (if you’re lucky)

is a simple, but profound checklist.

Aviate, Navigate, Communicate.

The checklist is critical for two reasons:

First, it teaches you what to do. And second, it teaches you when (the correct order) to do it.

Over time you learn the real value of the — aviate, navigate, communicate — checklist. Over time you watch the checklist save your own butt. Over time you fall in love with the simplicity and effectiveness of the checklist.

And if these experiences aren’t convincing enough to new pilots, well . . .

Have you ever worked for someone who takes complete responsibility for ALL their actions?

Someone who never passes the buck?

I have.

It’s awesome.

It’s inspiring.

It’s leadership to the core.

One of the officers I served with followed this creed. He never passed the buck. Never. He took complete responsibility for everything in his charge.

Everything.

He was also a complete hard-ass.

But it didn’t matter. Everyone still loved him and wanted to work for him… including me.

Why?

Because he knew the secret.

Part II of our interview with Guru Flight Nurse Missy Gann.  If you're serious about a flight nursing career, do not miss this interview!  Missy tells the exact steps she took to begin her nursing and flight nursing careers.  She also explains exactly what it takes to succeed as a flight nurse in today's fast-paced and fast-changing air medical world.

Guru flight nurse Missy Gann shares her path to a flight nursing career.  Her journey includes 13 years Intensive Care Unit (ICU) experience, Emergency Department experience and 22 years (and counting) as a professional flight nurse.  If you're looking for the straight scoop on what it takes to succeed as a flight nurse, you'll absolutely want to catch this episode.

Listen to our interview with Jill Stull, flight nurse and outreach coordinator for Conemaugh Medstar, an air medical helicopter service supporting Memorial Medical Center in Johnstown, PA.  Follow her career path into nursing and flight nursing as well as her duties as an outreach coordinator for an air medical program.  If you're intrested in a flight nursing career, you will absolutely want to listen to this podcast.

A heart to heart discussion with Krista Haugen from Survivor's Network for Air & Surface Medical Transport.  Learn the reasons she started a flight nursing career; as well as the triumphs and challenges that led to the creation of Survivor's Network.