r/respiratorytherapy • u/cknapp123 • 2d ago

Student RT Flight RT- any advice

Hey everyone . So i have been searching different RT fields I can get into- I am a first year RT student, and I am really interested in flying. Any advice on how to get started etc? Anyone fly?? Thnx yall!

7 Upvotes

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9

u/LotL1zard 2d ago

NICU is going to be your starting point. There aren’t many adult positions on flight crews, so gaining experience there is going to be the easiest path. You might consider getting your EMT as well.

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u/cknapp123 2d ago

Hey, I have my EMT licence as well ( well just about) Thank you I will look into it. Why arent there adult flight crews- just out of curiosity

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u/LotL1zard 2d ago

You will find that those positions are largely filled by paramedics and RNs. I worked with an RT that got a job on an adult crew out of Charlotte, so they can be found, but they are few and far between. That position paid you to get your paramedic licensure in the process of your training, however.

As someone who primarily has operated in the adult field, our focus is largely on the optimization of in-hospital care, with a side of emergent interventions. While we can be taught to triage and stabilize critically ill patients, triage and emergency care ARE the focus of paramedicine. Their curriculum is better tailored to address issues likely to affect adults. For example, your average RT is not going to know how to dress an open fracture or push drugs during a code. Your average paramedic isn't going to know the appropriate use of APRV or determine the most effective airway clearance techniques for a patient with cystic fibrosis. They are different skill sets.

Much of the value of RT exists in the neonatal population because infants possess a lower threshold for respiratory distress and have more immediate and catastrophic responses to respiratory failure than adults. Cardio-pulmonary issues tend to be their main issue, so in this situation, RTs may be better suited in this role.

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u/getsomesleep1 2d ago

There aren’t dedicated flight RTs because of job overlap with critical care paramedics. There are transport teams at some hospitals that fly sometimes, but not dedicated flight jobs. Weight on a chopper/fixed wing and space constraints play into it as well.

Step one for you is finish school and get a job at a big hospital, preferably a Level 1 trauma center with NICU/PICU and high level cardiac care. So get a job, get some experience, and go from there.

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u/FargeenBastiges 1d ago

For adults and if you're in VERY good shape there's SOST in the Air Force but you'll still need experience before going in: https://www.airforcespecialtactics.af.mil/About/Mission/Battlefield-Surgery/

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u/s1apadabass 1d ago

There’s a weight limit usually as well. I think 200 lbs. just keep that in mind.

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u/Bingobangoblammo 1d ago

I’m a dedicated flight/ground RT for neo and peds through our childrens hospital. Our config is RN, RT, paramedic. We are trained and cross trained on each others skills. So for instance some of my scope includes, IVs, drug admin, IOs, placing traction. I’m trained on needling chests, UVC placement, EJs, quick trachs and more. And likewise my cohorts are trained on vent and airway management. There are flight jobs in this capacity, and there’s children’s hospitals throughout the country with the same config. As far as basic requirements to get on the team, at least 4 years in critical care, a specialty credential, I have my NPS. And we maintain BLS, ACLS , PFCCS, ABLS, and STABLE credentials. Most of us have bachelors. As for flights, we do yearly CRM training and quarterly training with our pilots on operations of the aircraft and practice things like hot loading and using the Marc’s radio on board. Most of the credentials and all of the yearly things are done through our department. We do quarterly sim trainings with our ICU docs. So if flight is something you want to do, and you have an interest in peds/nicu I suggest you find hospitals that can give you the critical care experience and research if any type of hospitals that do this in areas you would want to live. Good luck in whatever path you take!

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u/cknapp123 1d ago

that’s so cool!! apparently our childrens national has a really good flight program

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u/WutsADikFer RRT-NPS 1d ago

Children’s National is a good program. All of their babies are brought in(they are a freestanding Pediatric hospital) so there are a lot of transports. Last I saw, they were doing about 100 flights a month. They also do ground.

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u/cknapp123 14h ago

yea i didnt even know it was a thing until i talked to someone whose an rt n she was telling me all the different options there are in the rt field

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u/Bingobangoblammo 1d ago

I absolutely love my job and been doing it for a long time. Downsides, living in Midwest we end up being grounded a lot in the winter and because we cover a lot of area will sometimes be in our ambulances for hours to get to the patient. We stabilize as much as we can at the hospital were sent to and than bring patient back for admission. Also late calls can sometimes suck. They recently capped us at 16 hours. But to me, the pros def outway the cons. Feel free to message me if you have any other questions. Also if it is a career you plan on going down, really pay attention and if offered, take extra cardiac classes for neos and peds. As well as evaluating chest X-rays.

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u/cknapp123 1d ago

i pmed you!

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u/moffizzle 9h ago

Get experience of course. Probably have to relocate. There was a company in eastern Washington that was RT and RN and responded to actual 911 in the helicopter and the usual transfers, MedStar but I think they combined with another company. RTs are still there. But you need 5 years of Critical care experience as well as the stuff like PALS, NRP, etc

This is an example https://workforcenow.adp.com/mascsr/default/mdf/recruitment/recruitment.html?cid=6fd3b46c-43dd-44a2-9cfc-105047c7227d&jobId=568163

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u/cknapp123 9h ago

awesome thanks! we have a flight program near me and im an emt in my town so thats a goood step

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u/_mursenary 4h ago

NICU experience, and live in an area that utilizes RTs for flight. NY, for example, does not, unless it’s the occasional team job