USAFSAM prepares for arrival of new C-17 trainer

  • Published
  • By Michela Greco
  • 711th Human Performance Wing
The 711th Human Performance Wing's U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine (711 HPW/USAFSAM) is receiving a new C-17 trainer for its Flight Nurse, Aeromedical Evacuation Technician (FN/AET), AMC's Formal Training Unit (FTU), and Critical Care Air Transport Teams (CCATT) training courses. 

The unique, custom-designed trainer represents a major enhancement of USAFSAM mission capabilities to prepare total force aeromedical experts for advanced aeromedical evacuation missions.

Measuring 143 feet by 34 feet, the C-17 trainer will arrive on eight semi-trucks over a period of several days in mid-May. After arriving at USAFSAM in May, the C-17 fuselage will be reassembled in June and moved into USAFSAM's Aeromedical Evacuation Training Facility in mid-July.

In 2011, the Air Force purchased the C-17 trainer from Boeing with the long-term goal of using it for training courses at USAFSAM. Before coming to USAFSAM, the fuselage had to be transformed from a durability test model to a training platform for aeromedical evacuation personnel. The 502nd Trainer Development Squadron at Randolph Air Force Base has been modifying the C-17 fuselage, along with requirements from the aeromedical evacuation community, for this express purpose, which will be a tremendous asset for the Air Force Medical Service. Currently, USAFSAM uses two C-130 fuselages to provide aircraft familiarization and immersive training for its FN/AET, FTU, and CCATT courses.  Adding a C-17 training platform will double the School's training capabilities and provide on-site accessibility to one of the most commonly used aircraft for aeromedical evacuation.