Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 News
    
        Photos

    Week in Photos

    Air Force TV

    Commentaries

    Features

    Art

    About Us
    
        Air Force Senior Leaders
    
        SECAF

    CSAF

    CMSAF

    Biographies

    Fact Sheets

    SECAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library
    
        CSAF Leadership Library 2022

    CSAF Leadership Library 2021

    CSAF Reading List Pre-2020 Archive
    
        2018 CSAF Reading List

    2017 CSAF Reading List

    2016 CSAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library 2023

    CMSAF Leadership Library

    50 Years of the CMSAF

    Adjunct Professors

    Air Force Strategic Documents

    Arctic Strategy

    Empowered Airmen

    State Licensure Portability

    Careers

    AF Federal Advisory Committees

    AF 75th Anniversary

    Policy Updates

    AF Content Management

    Contact Us

    AF Sites
    
        Site RegistrationU.S. Air Force LogoAir Force

        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      A KC-46A Pegasus assigned to McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas sits on the flightline July 11, 2020 at Travis Air Force Base, California. After six flights and 17 hours of total flying time, the successful aeromedical evacuation mission marked a key milestone in the progress of the KC-46 Initial Operational Test and Evaluation. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Nilsa Garcia)KC-46A Pegasus Completes Its First Aeromedical Evacuation Mission
                        
                        
                        A KC-46A Pegasus assigned to McConnell Air Force Base, Kan., sits on the flightline July 11, 2020, at Travis Air Force Base, Calif. After six flights and 17 hours of total flying time, the successful aeromedical evacuation mission marked a key milestone in the progress of the KC-46 Initial Operational Test and Evaluation. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Nilsa Garcia)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        Master Sgt. Jaclyn Klimaski, Air Mobility Command aeromedical evacuation technician assigned to Air Mobility Command Headquarters at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois searches for equipment in an inflight kit July 10, 2020, at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. In support of this Initial Operational Test and Evaluation, the Total Force AE crew qualified on the KC-46A Pegasus using a syllabus that included numerous patient scenarios and configurations to guide the execution of the training. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Nilsa Garcia)KC-46A Pegasus Completes Its First Aeromedical Evacuation Mission
                        
                        
                        Master Sgt. Jaclyn Klimaski, Air Mobility Command aeromedical evacuation technician assigned to Air Mobility Command Headquarters at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., searches for equipment in an inflight kit at Joint Base Andrews, Md., July 10, 2020. In support of this Initial Operational Test and Evaluation, the total force AE crew qualified on the KC-46A Pegasus using a syllabus that included numerous patient scenarios and configurations to guide the execution of the training. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Nilsa Garcia)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        Maj. Michael Murphy, 905th Air Refueling Squadron pilot, conducts a preflight check July 9, 2020, at McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas. Murphy was part of a seven-man aircrew team that participated in a total force initiative to test capabilities of aeromedical evacuation on the KC-46A Pegasus. The mission marked the first aeromedical evacuation of live patients to be carried out by the KC-46. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Nilsa Garcia)KC-46A Pegasus Completes Its First Aeromedical Evacuation Mission
                        
                        
                        Maj. Michael Murphy, 905th Air Refueling Squadron pilot, conducts a preflight check at McConnell Air Force Base, Kan., July 9, 2020. Murphy was part of a seven-man aircrew team that participated in a total force initiative to test capabilities of aeromedical evacuation on the KC-46A Pegasus. The mission marked the first aeromedical evacuation of live patients to be carried out by the KC-46. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Nilsa Garcia)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res

KC-46 completes its first aeromedical evacuation missionPublished July 16, 2020
                    
                    By Airman 1st Class Nilsa Garcia
                    
                    
                    22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
            **MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. (AFNS) --**Airmen assigned to the 931st Air Refueling Squadron and 22nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron participated in a total force mission to test capabilities of the **KC-46A Pegasus** during its first aeromedical evacuation on July 10.
Over the course of six flights and 17 hours, the mission, which originated at **Joint Base Andrews**, Maryland, transited five patients and two attendees to Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia; **Patrick Air Force Base**, Florida; and **Travis AFB**, California. The mission was evaluated by the **Air Force Testing and Evaluation Center**.
“I don’t think most people realize the amount of training and dedication the team has when they come out and do a mission like this,” said Maj. Michael Murphy, 905th Air Refueling Squadron pilot. “Everyone really performed well and at a high level.”
The KC-46 has undergone extensive testing this past year, led by the Air Force Testing and Evaluation Center, to evaluate the KC-46’s capabilities to support aeromedical evacuation. After the resolution of key discrepancies, the successful completion of the first operational mission represents a significant milestone in the aircraft’s ability to demonstrate one of its three mission sets: aerial refueling, airlift and aeromedical evacuation.
“Some of the things we were looking for was whether or not the aircraft could sustain patient care over a 14-hour span,” said Master Sgt. Heath Hampton, Detachment 3 Initial Operational Test and Evaluations section chief for the KC-46 program. “That was proven today. It was a proof of concept that the KC-46 could be used as a viable aeromedical evacuation platform.”
An integral factor for the successful execution of the mission was the notable patient care provided by the aeromedical evacuation team. Aeromedical evacuation plays a significant role in the nation’s global capabilities as it provides time sensitive and mission critical patient care during transport to their home installations for follow-on care.
The Total Force team, which consisted of two flight nurses and three medical technicians (all qualified on the KC-46), used a syllabus that included numerous patient scenarios and configurations to guide the execution of the training.
“It’s incredible how AE touches the patient from the point of injury all the way back home,” said Lt. Col Jason Arndt, 133rd Airlift Wing branch chief of aeromedical evacuation. “Throughout this whole journey there’s total force involved. It’s nice when a whole team can come together and work seamlessly to transport patients safely and effectively.”
The aircraft’s interior environmental controls proved not only to be effective but ideal for patient care. For Hampton, who has been involved in the evaluation of the KC-46 over the past three years, witnessing the aircraft reach this major milestone is a feat he holds close to his heart.
“(Being a part of this mission) really meant a lot to me,” Hampton said. “We took this concept from a piece of paper all the way to patient movement. I really am proud of the whole team and proud that I had the opportunity to help make it happen.”
Key features, such as increased lighting visibility, electrical power and storage capacity, allowed the team to provide quality care in the air. Since its delivery in January of 2019, there has been major headway with the aircraft’s operational capacity.USAF 



AF 



Air Force 



931st Air Refueling Squadron 



22nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron 



total force 



Patrick AFB 



Travis AFB 



KC-46A Pegasus 



Joint Base Andrews 



aeromedical evacuation 



Air Force Testing and Evaluation Center 



LR Featured News
        Senior Leader Priorities
                DAF leaders talk budget, reoptimizing the force
                    
                    DAF leaders speak at National Character and Leadership Symposium
                    
                    DAF members recognized during BEYA STEM awards
                    
                    DAF senior enlisted advisors discuss Airmen, Guardians in the fight
                    
                    SecAF Kendall AFA Warfare Symposium Q&A: Reoptimizing for Great Power CompetitionInnovation
                AFWERX director discusses role of tech startups, quick innovation in Great Power Competition
                    
                    DAF delivers lethality at the speed of data during Project Convergence Capstone 4
                    
                    DAF welcomes industry partners to HQ development program
                    
                    DAF announces Spark Tank 2024 finalists
                    
                    Chief Digital, Artificial Intelligence Office to host hackathon in HawaiiMAJCOM News
                Safety enterprise announces new mission, vision, goals in 2024 strategic plan
                    
                    Air Combat Command welcomes new commander
                    
                    USAFE-AFAFRICA commander discusses Integrated Air, Missile Defense during Munich Security Conference
                    
                    Flosi to AFMC family: Embrace change, make every day count
                    
                    AMC rises to increasing global tension
 Quick Links
AccessibilityContact UsEqual OpportunityFOIA | Privacy | Section 508Information QualityInspector GeneralJAG Court-Martial DocketLink DisclaimerNo FEAR ActOpen GovernmentOSI Tip LinePlain LanguageQuestionsResilienceRSSSite MapVeterans Crisis LineCareers
Join the Air ForceAir Force BenefitsAir Force CareersAir Force ReserveAir National GuardCivilian ServiceConnect
            Get Social with Us
            
            Official United States Air Force Website
    Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil