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Ramstein C-9s to retire

USAFE News

Release Date: 7/29/2003

Story by Army Spc. Melissa Walther

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany (USAFENS) - The aeromedical evacuation mission of the 86th Airlift Wing is transitioning from C-9s to other airframes including the C-17, C-21, C-130 and other opportune aircraft, said Brig. Gen. Erwin F. Lessel, 86th Airlift Wing commander.

The Air Force is retiring the C-9A Nightingales currently used for medical evacuation, one of the wing's primary missions. Five are assigned to the 75th Airlift Squadron for aeromedical evacuation. One additional C-9A is assigned to the 76th Airlift Squadron for special mission transport of high-ranking government and Department of Defense officials.

The C-9 is a modified version of the DC-9 commercial airliner and entered the Air Force inventory in 1968. It has approximately 38,000 flight hours to its credit.

"The C-9 has an outstanding record," General Lessel said, "but it has corrosion problems common to aircraft of similar age and it doesn't meet noise restriction standards of the Federal Aviation Administration and International Civil Aviation Organization."

The base has already begun moving the medical airlift mission to C-21s, C-130s and C-141s, Lessel said. The retirement of the C-9 is expected to be complete by late this year.

"This is a significant transition," General Lessel said, "but it's important to note that our aeromedical evacuation mission will not be affected. The C-21s, C-130s and C-141s are easily configured to accommodate the same medical equipment used on the C-9s, and the medical personnel are qualified to perform their same duties on these aircraft."

The general said the change also represents a step forward in the base's continuous effort to reduce aircraft noise. The C-130s absorbing the aeromedical evacuation mission will eventually be replaced by upgraded versions with newer engines and quieter auxiliary power units.

The C-9s assigned to Ramstein are operated by the 75th Airlift Squadron, which teams with the 86th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron to provide medical evacuation for routine, priority and urgent patients. The squadrons fly 13 regularly scheduled weekly missions and travel as far west as Lajes Field, Azores; to Incirlik Air Base, Turkey and to Bahrain on the Arabian Peninsula to the south.

One C-9 remains on alert 24 hours a day, seven days a week to respond to urgent requirements for medical missions. The C-9 aeromedical alert mission will be moved to specially modified C-21 aircraft by August of this year.