Homeland Security Emergency Air Transportation System
Homeland Security Emergency Air Transportation System (HSEATS)
Civil Aviation Response to Disaster System (CARDS)
System Organization
- Administered by Mercy Medical Airlift® (MMA)
- Developed under Federal Grant #02SVHP009 from the Corporation for National and Community Service
- Utilizes the following assets:
- Regionally organized volunteer pilots/planes
- More than 7,000 volunteer pilots and planes are available nationwide (4 – 6 seat private aircraft)
- Shipment of small high-priority cargo (non-hazardous) up to 300 to 400 pounds (boxed)
- Aerial reconnaissance of disaster area
- Air transport of disaster response personnel and evacuees
- Commercial Airline ticket resources
- Evacuation/Relocation of personnel
- Corporate Aviation resources
- Liaison with National Business Aircraft Association (NBAA) to provide corporate assets (jets)
- Professional air ambulance providers
- Approximately 200 fixed-wing air ambulance providers (props and jets)
- Medical team onboard
- Substantial savings from retail cost (average savings is 38%)
System Facts
- Flew over 2,600 flights in Katrina response
- National Communications Center located in Virginia Beach, VA
- Flight coordination by full-time professional staff (on call 24/7)
- Mobile command and control units “Go Teams” being established
- Emergency Call Center established to receive and enter flight requests
- Web-based flight request/coordination system established
Whom we serve at the national level
- Mennonite Disaster Services
- America’s Blood Centers
- American Red Cross
- Inter-Organizational Task Force on Emergency Blood and Blood Product Distribution
- Salvation Army Disaster Services
- Southern Baptist Disaster Services
- Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
- Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
- Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)
Whom we serve at the state level
- EMOCs at all levels
- Homeland Security Coordinators
- State Public Health Departments
- State Police Organizations
- Emergency Medical Service Providers
- Other state and local agencies
HSEATS National Communications Center (Non-Emergency)
4620 Haygood Road, Suite 1
Virginia Beach, VA 23455Admin: 757-318-9174 Ext. 206
Fax: 757-318-9107HSEATS Emergency Contact (to request flights)
Primary # 888-581-3752
Secondary # 888-849-0506National Communications Center Primary # When Activated
1-866-380-1910
Globalstar: # 254-460-6720 On During Emergencies - Regionally organized volunteer pilots/planes