ARGUS International, Inc. (ARGUS) is pleased to present STAT MedEvac with the prestigious ARGUS Platinum Rating at the Air Medical Transport Conference (AMTC) 2012. STAT MedEvac is the first Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) operator to achieve the ARGUS Platinum Rating. The Platinum Rating is the highest level of ARGUS Ratings and is awarded only to those air charter operators who have demonstrated successful implementation of industry best safety practices relative to their operations and maintenance. STAT MedEvac will be presented with the ARGUS Platinum Rating at AMTC, in ARGUS’ booth #1237.

“STAT MedEvac has a long history of continuously striving toward the highest standard of safety, including the establishment of a safety culture second to none. Achieving the ARGUS Platinum Rating is a significant milestone in our continuing quest for excellence and demonstrates our commitment to raising the safety bar for HEMS operations. The process involved in obtaining an ARGUS Rating is itself an exercise in operational self-evaluation and development, and highlighted for us areas of improvement that might otherwise have gone unnoticed”, John Kenny, STAT MedEvac’s Director of Operations.

“We at ARGUS congratulate and welcome STAT MedEvac to the elite and respected group of Platinum Rated Operators,” said Jospeh Moeggenberg, ARGUS International, Inc. President and CEO. “Achieving the ARGUS Platinum Rating is quite an accomplishment as a number of operators do not pass our rigorous audit standard. Of the total 446 ARGUS Rated operators, only 107 have successfully attained the coveted ARGUS Platinum Rating. It is great to see operators like STAT MedEvac who understand the value of building an organizational culture focused around safety and quality. We look forward to presenting STAT MedEvac with their Platinum plaque at AMTC 2012.”

Doug Garretson, STAT MedEvac’s President and CEO, is proud of the employees’ companywide commitment to a culture of safety and gives high marks to the aviation team for driving this initiative. He also recognizes the unwavering support for safety from STAT MedEvac’s Board of Directors. “We enjoy a level of safety participation at every level of our company – from line personnel to the Board Chair. We have a responsibility to our employees and the patients we serve to achieve, and where possible exceed the industry’s best practices and standards. Engaging ARGUS gave us the opportunity to validate our efforts and identify areas to improve. We are elated to achieve Platinum, the highest ARGUS rating and to serve as an example for our industry as a leader in HEMS and aviation safety.”

This achievement is in a long list of firsts for STAT MedEvac, which prides itself on being a leader in innovation and safety for the HEMS and critical care transport industry. Established in 2007, STAT MedEvac was the first to implement the FAA ASAP program. “With over five years of success the FAA and STAT MedEvac have determined that a joint systematic approach to safety reporting truly enhances the overall safety culture at STAT MedEvac”, Paul Lhote, STAT MedEvac Director of Safety. In addition to safety systems, STAT MedEvac has taken additional steps to go above and beyond the requirements for aircraft maintenance. Together, the STAT MedEvac maintenance team has over three centuries worth of combined EC135 and EC145 experience, with a majority having factory training and additional certifications. The culmination of these efforts has resulted in STAT MedEvac being a two-time recipient of the FAA Diamond Award of Excellence.

ARGUS PROS (Partners and Resources for Operational Safety), a wholly-owned subsidiary of ARGUS International, is the only audit organization that has developed its own industry-leading audit standard for charter operators and also holds authorizations from two world-recognized standards organizations. ARGUS PROS is authorized by both the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) to perform audits utilizing their respective standards, IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) and IS-BAO.

ARGUS PROS is the worldwide leader in on-site safety audits, performing over 1,500 audits on 6 continents. In the last 2 years alone, ARGUS PROS have performed more than 400 audits to a range of standards. ARGUS PROS is uniquely capable of providing audits worldwide for fixed-wing and helicopter operators and each audit is tailored to reflect the specific needs of a corporate, charter, fractional or airline operation.

About ARGUS ARGUS International Inc. (ARGUS) is a specialized aviation services company with global expertise whose mission is to provide the aviation marketplace with the information needed to make informed decisions and manage risk. ARGUS services include the CHEQ proprietary charter operator rating and due diligence program, TRAQPak market intelligence data and research services, and aviation consulting. ARGUS subsidiaries include ARGUS PROS, the leading provider of on-site safety audits and PRISM, the industry’s most advanced Safety Management Systems (SMS) solutions provider and recognized certification consultant.

Founded in 1995, ARGUS is headquartered in Cincinnati, OH, and actively engaged with business activities in North America, Europe, Australia, Asia, South America and the Middle East and Africa.

About STAT MedEvac
Headquartered in Pittsburgh, STAT MedEvac operates twenty-one helicopters over seventeen base sites in Pennsylvania and surrounding states. The Center for Emergency Medicine of Western Pennsylvania, Inc. (CEM) is a not-for-profit organization directed by a consortium of UPMC hospitals: UPMC Presbyterian Shadyside, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, and UPMC Mercy Hospital. CEM is the world’s leading institute for research and education in emergency medicine.