U.S. Air Forces in Europe
U.S. Air Force Africa
June 10, 2015
Pápa, Ramstein join to save lives
By Senior Airman Jonathan Stefanko
86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
Ramstein Air Base, Germany: Strategic Airlift Capability Heavy Airlift Wing (HAW) multi-national aircrew members from Pápa Air Base, Hungary, partnered with a critical care aeromedical transportation team (CCATT) stationed at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, to receive two wounded patients June 8, 2015, in Bulgaria.
Two units came together for this first CCATT mission to transport patients, with one in critical condition, traveling approximately 2,000 miles from Bulgaria to Ramstein where they would receive additional medical support.
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Adapting the best practices in the U.S. Air Force, Royal Canadian air force, Australian air force and the United Kingdom’s Royal air force, the Strategic Airlift Capability Heavy Airlift Wing ensures they are operationally ready for any mission, securing their role as the world’s first and only multinational C-17 wing. The wing’s structure is designed to operate in support of the Strategic Airlift Capability’s mission of providing combat and humanitarian airlift, airdrop and aeromedical evacuation wherever and whenever required.
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Though members include the U.S. and eleven European countries, the SAC program operates independently of any command by the European Union, United Nations, or NATO.
“Apart from the U.S. pilots, none of the other nation’s personnel in this squadron have previous experience flying a C-17,” Blackstone said. “We have fighter, helicopter, even propeller pilots operating this massive cargo airframe so our training needs to be the best of the best to respond to these real world missions.”
In 2014, the Heavy Airlift Wing accomplished 251 mission requests from 12 nations and transported more than 20 million pounds of cargo.
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The Strategic Airlift Capability gives its member nations cost effective access to jointly owned and operated strategic airlift.
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