C-27J Super Spartan Shifted From Army To Air Force
More than 20 Airmen from Scott Air Force Base continued
production qualification testing on the C-27J Spartan at Scott AFB
in Illinois June 8 and 9. The C-27J was originally an Army
development program until April 2009 when Defense Secretary Robert
Gates shifted the program to the Air Force. As such, Air
Force-specific procedures for how to operate the aircraft must be
created, which is where these tests came in.
The C-27J boasts shorter landing and takeoff capabilities which
allows the airframe to fly into austere areas that do not have the
necessary infrastructure to handle the Air Force's larger aircraft.
The airframe will significantly enhance the Air Force's
capabilities to evacuate wounded servicemembers out of dangerous
environments. It was these aeromedical evacuation capabilities that
were tested at Scott AFB last week - namely the capability to
quickly and safely evacuate ambulatory and littered patients in the
event of an emergency.
During the tests, aeromedical evacuation members performed timed
evacuations of all patients and aircrew through all doors,
including one of the emergency escape hatches on the top of the
airframe. The tests were a precursor to the Multi-Service
Operational Test and Evaluation which will take place later this
summer. The MOT&E determines the capabilities of the airframe
in an operational environment. "We gathered data so aeromedical
evacuation training regulations and operating instructions for the
aircraft can be written," said Master Sgt. Michael Baker, a test
director from the Air Mobility Command Test and Evaluation Squadron
at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, NJ. Once the results of the
observation have been recorded, "those publications will be
standardized for use by aeromedical evacuation crews Air Force
wide, when they evacuate patients on the C-27J," he said.
An electromagnetic interference evaluation of the aeromedical
evacuation equipment was also performed to ensure its operation
does not interfere with any aircraft equipment, said John Rehkop, a
member of the AMC Test and Evaluation office. "At the conclusion of
this effort, the Army will determine if the system is airworthy in
preparation for the MOT&E," he said. During the MOT&E,
operational aeromedical evacuation aircrew will configure the
aircraft for an aeromedical evacuation mission and fly it in an
operationally realistic environment.
Though this testing went late into the night June 8, the long
day was well worth it, said Capt. John Camacho, a 375th Aeromedical
Evacuation Squadron flight nurse instructor and test participant.
"It was a lot of work, but at the end of the day, it's an important
effort to help make sure that our wounded warriors get the help
they need when they need it and bring them back home," he said.
This is the second time Scott AFB members have assisted in tests
for the C-27J. In late February, aeromedical evacuation technicians
went through several patient-carrying configurations on the
aircraft to optimize patient-carrying capabilities. Four
configurations of passenger seating and litters were developed as a
result of these tests.
The airframe's shorter landing and takeoff capabilities will
also enable supplies to be delivered closer to their destination
point, saving lives of warfighters by reducing the need for ground
convoys in dangerous areas.