Kandahar Air Wing Flight Medics Complete CASF Training

KANDAHAR, AFGHANISTAN

12.28.2010

Story by Vladimir Potapenko 

438th Air Expeditionary Wing

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - Afghan Air Force flight medics from the Kandahar Air Wing recently completed an eight week Contingency Aeromedical Staging Facility familiarization course provided by the 451st Air Expeditionary Wing. Afghan Flight Medics are responsible for taking care of patients during aeromedical evacuation flight missions.

During this course, they learned about scheduling AE flights, configuring aircraft for patients, transferring patients between ambulances and aircraft and the AE-related ground and flight safety concerns.

The flight medics applied their learning to AE missions from the Kandahar Regional Military Hospital to the National Military Hospital in Kabul. The Kandahar Air Wing will soon have their own fixed-wing aircraft. Their ability to operate a CASF will become important to being able to quickly prepare routine and urgent patients for aeromedical evacuation. While the Kandahar Air Wing safely moved over 300 patients using Kabul-based Afghan Air Force aircraft this year, NATO Air Training Command-Afghanistan medical advisors noticed a marked improvement in the KAW Flight Medics’ confidence and abilities because of this CASF training.

NATO training and partnering opportunities such as this CASF training are developing an independent and capable Afghan Air Force providing their patients the best possible “Care in the Air.”

• Date Taken: 12.28.2010
• Date Posted: 12.27.2010 23:27
• Story ID: 62675
• Location: KANDAHAR, AF