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    Super Galaxy: AE’s biggest ally

    Super Galaxy AE proof of concept

    Photo By Master Sgt. Joey Swafford | U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Edgar Ramirez, 433rd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron medical...... read more read more

    TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, CA, UNITED STATES

    12.14.2018

    Story by Joey Swafford 

    60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

    During a cold, gloomy first week of December, total force Airmen
    teamed up at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, to test the capability of the Air Forces largest aircraft to
    perform aeromedical evacuation during a proof of concept event.

    The goal was to establish the C-5M Super Galaxy as part of the universal qualification training program
    for AE forces. If successfully certified, the C-5M will have the capability to move three times the current
    capacity in one mission compared to other AE platforms.

    The proof of concept event was made possible by recent upgrades to the C-5 making the cargo
    compartment more suitable for AE operations.

    “The engine upgrade allowed the aircraft to produce a lot more power and to use the jet more
    efficiently,” said Master Sgt. Christopher Boots, 60th Operations Group Standardization and Evaluation
    C-5M flight engineer evaluator. “Another factor was the environmental system received upgrades. We
    now have better control over the systems, and we’re able to better control the environment
    (temperature and cabin pressure) that the AE folks would have downstairs in the cargo compartment.”

    The C-5M upgrades allowed the proof of concept to work, but the Airmen’s innovation is what made it
    happen.

    “The Air Force as a whole is more interested in using the assets that we have more efficiently and
    maximizing the capability that we can get out of different airplanes,” said Maj. Kevin Simonds, 22nd
    Airlift Squadron C-5M pilot. “I think this is an example of that. It's a priority within the force and in the
    MAJCOM (Air Mobility Command) as well to try to maximize the way we use the assets that we have.”

    With the Department of Defense’s shift to focus on great power competition and maintaining readiness,
    the C-5M’s greater capability to the AE enterprise could be a game changer.

    “It was great to observe, first hand, our Airmen working hard to make innovative strides using our
    existing platforms to get after a critical mission set,” said Brig. Gen. Darren James, director of AMC’s
    Operations, Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration. “Last week’s test provided valuable learning
    as we move forward in evaluating ways to increase our readiness and support of the 2018 National
    Defense Strategy.”

    The C-5M AE mission not only benefits readiness for any future conflicts it will be a benefit during any
    future natural disasters.

    “Using the C-5 for AE is going to be a pivotal point moving forward because it can be another platform
    for AE to move troops and also to aid in humanitarian missions and do mass evacuations,” said Maj.
    Catherine Paterson, 439th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron flight nurse. “Just being able to help either
    troops or humanitarian relief and pitch-in for that makes my job even more exciting and just warms my
    heart.”

    The C-5M and the active-duty Airmen crew traveled from Travis AFB. They were joined in the proof of
    concept by other active-duty Airmen and civilians from AMC, Scott AFB and the 43rd AES out of Pope
    Army Air Field, North Carolina. Reserve AE teams from the 439th AES out of Westover Air Reserve Base,
    Massachusetts, and the 433rd AES out of Joint Base San Antonio, Texas also joined them. Lastly, the
    team included the 142nd AES with the Delaware Air National Guard, making it a total force effort.

    This effort allowed for training standardization and boosted readiness for operational missions.

    “It's always beneficial to have the total force working together as one team,” said Paterson. “You
    always learn new things from working along with people from different backgrounds. You get different
    ideas, different concepts and you work together with the sole purpose of bringing troops home safely.”

    With the proof of concept successfully testing the cargo department as a viable option for AE missions,
    the AE community is waiting for the Air Force to certify the use of the platform before the C-5M is
    officially part of their mission.

    “We have made a great amount of progress in the last eight months,” said Maj. John Camacho-Ayala,
    Headquarters AMC branch chief for aeromedical evacuation operations and training. “I think that
    sometime in the near future we will definitely have a C-5 as part of our arsenal and a part of our
    weapons systems for the AE enterprise.”

    Once all the certifications are completed, the AE community will gain their biggest ally yet with the Air
    Force’s largest plane.

    The importance of having this great ally wasn’t lost on those who participated in the weeks events.
    “I can say yep; I was there at the very beginning of the C5 (AE testing) to help out and to provide input to
    troubleshoot questions,” said Paterson. “And to get AE on this aircraft hopefully up and running and
    transporting troops, so that we can do it. I mean there's nothing more rewarding than to look back on
    your career and say I was part of making history.”

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 12.14.2018
    Date Posted: 12.15.2018 01:06
    Story ID: 303761
    Location: TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, CA, US

    Web Views: 300
    Downloads: 0

    PUBLIC DOMAIN