Oregon Army National Guard Flight Medics Help Design the Future of MEDEVAC Technology

SALEM, Ore. – Oregon Army National Guard flight medics are contributing critical field data to the Army’s development of the MV-75 MEDEVAC cabin, evaluating the 20-foot Future Medical Evacuation Cabin Technical Demonstrator to inform the final design of the next-generation Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) patient handling system.

The Army announced the MV-75 as the new FLRAA, replacing the UH-60 Black Hawk as the preferred medevac aircraft. The results of these flight medics’ evaluations will impact the MV-75’s medevac cabin.

The most recent stop on the FMC-TD’s tour was in Salem, Oregon, where flight medics with the Oregon Army National Guard G Company, 189th Aviation, gave their feedback on the design.

“Due to the Oregon National Guard’s high proficiency and familiarity with medevac missions, it is the only reserve unit participating in this unique opportunity,” said Lt. Col. Nathan Edgecombe, Oregon Army National Guard state aviation officer.

Flight medics are the key to the unit’s success, Edgecombe said. Unlike active component medevac units, Oregon Army National Guard flight medics can supplement their medical knowledge with their civilian careers. Many flight medics in the Oregon Army National Guard practice medicine in their civilian lives, serving as firefighters, paramedics and nurses in their communities. This diversified knowledge gives Oregon Army National Guard flight medics a more well-rounded perspective when evaluating the FMC-TD.

“Our crew members are helping to shape the future of the medevac mission,” said Maj. Tim Heater, Oregon Army National Guard medevac commander base operations officer.

The flight medics evaluate the FMC-TD by performing medical interventions on mannequins, testing the cabin’s design. An operator team monitors the scenarios and surveys the medics about their experiences throughout the Special User Evaluation.

With 30% more cabin space compared to a Black Hawk, the Special User Evaluation collects data on things like ease of patient loading, litter configuration and equipment organization. It also tests new technologies, such as a modular rail system and the use of articulated litter pans that allow medics to pull patients away from the cabin walls for easier access.

This is not an evaluation of the flight medics’ knowledge, said Maj. Nick Toney, the assistant medevac product manager with the Program Executive Office – Aviation. Instead, it allows medics to test their skills against the cabin’s capabilities.

Designed with assault and medevac capabilities, Toney said the MV-75 is “twice as fast, twice as far,” in relation to the UH-60 Black Hawk, which has been the medevac “bird” of choice for more than 40 years. Edgecombe said the increased speed and mileage will be especially beneficial to the Oregon guard.

“If we can get [the MV-75], there’s nowhere in Oregon that we can’t provide assistance on one tank of gas,” Edgecombe said.

Since the MV-75 is still in development, the Army Medical Command (MEDCOM) is gathering feedback to enable the highest level of patient care. The Oregon National Guard is the fourth stop on the FMC-TD’s tour. The tour previously visited Fort Bragg, Fort Novosel and Fort Riley, and will finish at Fort Cavazos. Army MEDCOM’s goal is to collect the input of more than 100 flight providers. The input will be compiled in a report that will inform the final design of the FLRAA medevac patient handling system.

“When this new aircraft comes out, hopefully Oregon will get to say we had a hand in designing that,” Edgecombe said.

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