AFMC Command News

C-130 training simulator makes its move to base

  • Published
  • By Amy Rollins
  • Skywrighter Staff
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  Now that the nearly 700,000-square-foot complex that will house the Air Force Research Laboratory's 711th Human Performance Wing and their USAF School of Aerospace Medicine has been completed here, equipment is being moved in -- including the first of two Lockheed C-130 trainers that will be used by the school.

USAFSAM uses the fully functional C-130s and other aircraft simulators to train aeromedical evacuation teams, including flight nurses, aeromedical evacuation technicians and critical-care aeromedical evacuation teams, said Col. Charles Fisher, USAFSAM commander. The first C-130 arrived at Wright-Patterson Mar. 5, 2011, from Brooks City-Base near San Antonio, Texas, and was pulled into USAFSAM's Aero-medical Evacuation Training Center early on Mar. 7.

Barbara O'Brien, 88th Air Base Wing Civil Engineering Programs Division deputy director, said, "This BRAC program for Wright-Patterson Air Force Base -- 13 projects, $353 million in construction, and nearly six years in the making -- has culminated here with delivery of the largest project, the 711th Human Performance Wing Complex, nearly three months ahead of schedule."

88 ABW Civil Engineering's efforts began with site surveys back in 2005 followed by project programming, concept development and master planning, Ms. O'Brien said, culminating in their partnership with the Louisville District of the (U.S. Army) Corps of Engineers to lead the massive design and construction effort for the installation.

Ms. O'Brien noted that the 711th Human Performance Wing Complex is the largest single civil engineering effort for the installation in more than 50 years.

"Of course, many (civil engineers) would not encounter this unless you were building a new installation or going through a base realignment and closure," she said.

88 ABW Civil Engineering's and other entities' efforts have not gone unrecognized, she said: "This is an award-winning program. We have garnered several Air Force Design and Department of Defense Value Engineering Awards, and we are certainly pleased to participate in what may be a once-in-a-career program for many Air Force Civil Engineers."

The C-130 simulators will be joined by a Boeing C-17 Globemaster, a Boeing 767 and a helicopter, all to be used to train aeromedical evaluation teams and troops.

"We place (the students) in an immersive training environment that includes very realistic flights with high-technology simulated patients in each of our two C-130 trainers," Colonel Fisher said. "These are fully instrumented, fully operational aircraft without wings. We can simulate onboard emergencies with them. When you are inside, the sound, the feel, the environment, is absolutely realistic, and we are able to challenge our team with highly complicated missions that are modeled on actual missions and challenging patients who have returned from combat environments."

He added that the school's staff participates each week in global telephone conferences to discuss new technologies, capabilities and patients.

"With this training, our graduates are able to return people home with an almost 100 percent survival rate," he said.

The C-17 simulator is in final construction in San Antonio and will come to Wright-Patterson in several months. The Boeing 767 is a civilian reserve air fleet trainer, the only one of its kind in the world. Plans call for it to be located alongside the building.

"What you are watching is the movement of a massive organization from Brooks City-Base to here with no break in mission along the way," Colonel Fisher said. "We have continued all of our classes, lab work and consultations and created and staffed a whole new facility, without disrupting the mission along the way. We've done that with a lot of work and a lot of very long hours for the entire staff to keep that bridge going. Despite the challenges of moving, the school continues to function every day. The school's laboratories process about 45,000 specimens each week and haven't missed a day of productivity due largely to the incredible coordination and dedication of the staff."