• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

86 AES trains on the Herc

Released: Feb. 6, 2003

By Airman 1st Class Robyn Dorocak
86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany (USAFENS) -- Anywhere, anytime, on any aircraft - the 86th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron here stands "always ready" to provide medical evacuation. This was proof positive during a training exercise recently aboard a 37th Airlift Squadron C-130 Hercules aircraft.

The training on the Hercules allowed the team to showcase their flexibility to provide medical assistance on any airframe.

"The C-130 is a great platform for air evacuation," said Maj. Art Durkin, 86th AES standardization and evaluations chief. "It's a stable, tactical aircraft that allows us to move into different areas, including combat zones and unfinished airstrips, throughout the theater."

Using a C-130 Hercules, the medical team can aid people anywhere in the U.S. European Command area of responsibility. The Hercules missions can depart Ramstein on a mission with cargo and troops, then return to base as a combination of cargo, troops and patients.

"The team currently flies weekly aeromedical evacuation missions to Kosovo on a C-130," said Lt. Col. Steve Hill, 86th AES director of operations. "Our skills allow us to do our job aboard any aircraft, and the Herks take us where we need to go."

"The aircraft is quickly reconfigurable and has extensive evacuation capabilities - from one patient to a mass casualty response," said Durkin.

The training mission ensured the medical teams, who stand ready 24-hours-a-day, are current in their requirements for flight.

"We have to be ready to walk onto any airframe to take care of patients within an hour," Durkin said.

To accomplish this, the squadron has portable medical equipment they can move onto the C-130. Once aboard, they get to work - setting up the equipment and configuring the aircraft to meet the requirements of their patients.

Senior Airman Carolyn Pais, 86th AES aeromedical evacuation technician, went through the training aboard the C-130 to prepare for contingency operations. And on Jan. 27, flew her first mission to Kosovo.

"The training was really beneficial," she said. "Practicing an engine running offload helped familiarize me with accomplishing the task. So, when we did the ERO in Kosovo, I had the benefits of my training experience."

Using the centerline stanchions and straps, stretchers are stacked vertically along the length of the centerline, with web seats for ambulatory patients toward the outside of the cabin. The technicians use the Hercules to hold up to 74 stretchers at one time. The aircraft additionally supports items such as oxygen, monitors and blood pressure cuffs that are plugged in and use electrical energy from the airframe, Durkin said.

"The C-130 provides the platform for medical capabilities and no service is compromised," said Col. Jacqueline Murdock, 86th AES commander. "The care still comes from the skills of the crew and the medical equipment on board."