The National Transportation Safety Board has taken state police forces to task for a series of fatal helicopter crashes in recent years from Maryland to Alaska. But perhaps the board levied its heaviest criticism at the New Mexico State Police (NMSP) for the fatal crash of its AgustaWestland AW109E back in 2009.

The board basically found that the fish was rotten from the head down: political interference in operational decision-making, draconian management flavored with cowboyism, flawed policies, poor pilot decision-making, basically everything short of adding Slurpees to the Jet-A.

The Peter Principle meets the helicopter. If you haven’t already, go online and read the report; it’s ugly. It was just one more reason why public helicopter safety made the NTSB's most recent "most wanted" list.

Dead bodies tend to generate self-reflection and to its credit, the NMSP did that, instituted reforms, and shared them with the rotorcraft community at large at this year’s Heli-Expo during an NTSB safety forum. Among the things the department has done:

1. Adopted best practices.
Starting with guidelines from the Airborne Law Enforcement Association (ALEA), NMSP implemented risk management and operations programs and trained joint tactical air controllers.
2. Dialed down the adrenaline.
When you get a call, the natural reaction is a rush to launch. Now the NMSP uses a risk management form that must be filled out by hand and scored, and then sent up the chain of command. Crews must file a VFR flight plan and a preflight planning list that includes an equipment checklist.
3. Instituted hard duty times to combat fatigue.
4. Implemented a tactical flight officer (TFO) training program.
The idea is to reduce pilot workload with a trained crew who knows how to navigate, use night vision goggles and forward-looking infrared, and can land the helicopter in an emergency. On complex and/or demanding missions, two TFOs are dispatched with the pilot.
5. Added equipment.
A second FLIR screen has been added to the second TFO station. NMSP now uses the Spider Tracks aircraft tracking system and all crew members get personal beacons. Crews wear flight vests and take survival gear on each mission. Now if they have to shelter in place, they can. Crews also received tablets with navigation software.
6. Emotionally shielded the crew.
Crews are not given the location, but not the specifics of the mission, i.e. a sick baby, until after the go/no-go decision is made.

It takes guts to stand up in a crowded room, admit mistakes, and share solutions with your peers. Confession may be good for the soul, but it’s not easy. But it makes everyone safer.