Photo By Staff Sgt. Alan Royalty | Maj. Curtis Lowe, Chief Warrant Officer 3 James Ashbrook, and Chief Warrant Officer 3...... read more read more
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FRANKFORT, Ky. (May 5, 2025) – Soldiers with the Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 376th Aviation Regiment, 751st Troop Command, 63rd Theater Aviation Brigade, Kentucky Army National Guard conducted a training flight to the rooftop of University of Kentucky Albert B. Chandler Hospital in Lexington, Ky. on May 5, 2025. This flight was part of emergency management contingency training intended to positively affect patient outcomes during austere casualty evacuation operations.
Charlie Company commander Maj. Curtis Lowe and Chief Warrant Officer 3 James Ashbrook, with support from Chief Warrant Officer 3 Patrick Ferguson, piloted a UH-72 Lakota helicopter to the UK Healthcare facility to train rooftop helipad landing procedures at multiple points across the hospital.
The 63rd Theater Aviation Brigade’s rapid response to domestic emergencies requires adaptive training and a fine tuned skillset. After the 2025 winter storms and devastating flooding impacted thousands across the state, training in rescue operations is paramount.
“It’s important to keep these skills sharp,” said Ferguson, a senior Lakota flight instructor with over 20 years of experience as an aviator. “If we evacuate casualties with this aircraft, we need to be ready to do whatever is best for the patient.”
While not typically an aerial ambulance for the Kentucky Guard, the lighter-weight UH-72 Lakota specializing in aerial reconnaissance can serve as an alternate casualty evacuation vehicle when necessary. These contingency exercises offer unique training opportunities for aviators responding atypically to rapidly evolving emergency missions.
“Getting pilots comfortable traveling to level one trauma centers is very important,” Lowe said. “It’s challenging training focused on aircraft performance management, wind regulation, power management, and general piloting skills.”
Kentucky Army National Guard aviators expect further timely and effective contingency training scenarios as their annual training season continues.
“This is why annual training is so important,” Ferguson said. “Getting back to the basics and making sure every pilot is proficient are our top priorities.”
| Date Taken: | 05.05.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 05.15.2025 09:02 |
| Story ID: | 497527 |
| Location: | LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY, US |
| Web Views: | 32 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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