Alpine Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (AHEMS) course

Blackcomb Helicopters is proud to partner with the Canadian Society of Mountain Medicine to offer one of only three International Commission Alpine Rescue (ICAR) AHEMS courses worldwide. The CSMM was formed in 2012 as a society of like-minded mountain medicine and rescue professionals to develop a Canadian-based ICAR Diploma in Mountain Medicine (DiMM) program. Having established a successful and internationally-recognized program, CSMM is now proud to develop and offer it’s own AHEMS course in Canada.

The AHEMS course was created by Air Zermatt, in Switzerland, for medical providers and/or rescuers who want to become crew members (medical/technical) on a HEMS/SAR helicopter.

The course is designed for experienced Emergency Medicine Service (EMS) professionals—including physicians, paramedics, and nurses—who excel in both their medical expertise and their comfort in alpine environments. Participants receive specialized training in flight theory, helicopter safety, HETS (Human External Transport Systems), mountainside medical care, and helicopter transport protocols. A mandatory component, the Alpine Flight Crew Emergency Survival Training (AFCEST), ensures graduates are fully prepared for challenging conditions in remote mountain settings.

Graduates earn ICAR’s prestigious AHEMS/AFCEST certification, recognized worldwide as a benchmark for excellence in mountain rescue. Blackcomb Helicopters is honoured to contribute to this vital program, equipping EMS professionals with the skills needed to save lives in some of the most demanding environments on Earth.

2025 Course Date: May 5-12, 2025

Diploma Requirements

Applicants will typically be mountaineers of kinds (climbers, skiers, riders and fliers) with knowledge and experience in the use of alpine safety equipment, rope systems, navigation tools, radio communication and self-rescue. Specifically, applicants fulfill the following 3 requirements:

• Working as a Healthcare provider (EMT, Paramedic, Nurse, Physician, etc) or as a rescuer for a medical/rescue organization (association with a rescue team preferred)

• Active mountaineer (physically active and capable of travelling in mountainous terrain)

• Basic rope access / rescue technician skillsets (Knots, Anchor systems… You must be able to master the following knots prior the course: munter/italian hitch, figure of 8, clove hitch, overhand slip knot, Double overhand/fisherman knot, prusik)

Fees & Module Information

Course Fee: ~$8,000 TBD

Location: Whistler, BC, Canada

The following must be completed by January 31, 2025:

• Applications and $100 non refundable application fee.

• Course confirmation based on minimum student numbers will be decided by this date.

Fees do not include gear rental and dinners.

Refund/Cancellation Policy:

75% Refund if cancellation is received 90 DAYS prior to the course commencement. 50% Refund if cancellation is received 60 DAYS prior to the course commencement. NO Refund for cancellations received with less than 60 DAYS notification.

• All attendees and applicants are advised to secure travel or other cancellation insurance available through various suppliers or perhaps your credit card will provide the coverage. You are responsible to check that you have coverage for cancellations.

• General CSMM policy is that cancellations will incur a minimum charge of a $ 500.00 administration fee or the charges based on the refund policy noted above.

• The cost to prepare for a course and pre-book accommodation and other resources requiring deposits (i.e. mountain guides or other subject matter experts) dictates the refund policy noted above, as CSMM operates as a non-profit organization and cannot absorb any losses.

• Note: Under extenuating circumstances a COURSE FEE PAID may be carried over to a future course less a minimum administration fee of $ 500.00 plus any costs incurred for prepaid expenses i.e. hotel, back country lodge, mountain guide, etc.