Aeromedical Evacuation Crew Member Course
The Canadian Forces (CF) Aeromedical Evacuation (AE) Crew Member Course prepares qualified medical personnel to perform the duties and responsibilities of an Aeromedical Evacuation Crew Member (AECM) during peacetime/conflict operations and national/international emergencies. These duties/responsibilities will be performed onboard fixed wing aircraft during strategic and tactical AE missions.
Course Outline:
Training is divided into three main blocks:
- General AE
- Strategic AE
- Tactical AE
The content and study materials on the AECM Course are entirely unclassified in nature. Human Performance in Military Aviation will be emphasized during training and performing the duties and responsibilities of an AECM.
AECMs will maintain, secure, operate and troubleshoot medical equipment used onboard CF AE platforms, including:
- intravenous infusion pump
- patient oxygen systems
- patient comfort devices
- patient physiologic monitoring devices
- patient restraints
- chest tube drainage system
- cardiac monitor and defibrillator
- suction devices
They will learn to plan and provide care from originating to destination medical facilities, to compensate for the stresses of the flight environment and to manage in-flight medical complications. They will use various AE configurations on the CC-130J Hercules.
They will configure the CC-130J for floor and tier loading while practicing enplaning and deplaning of simulated patients. They will utilize the aircraft systems, which may include oxygen, communications and electrical systems.
In addition, they will respond to aircraft emergencies using Aviation Life Support Equipment. They will perform their duties and responsibilities during all phases of a Tactical AE mission, including embarking and deplaning of casualties using both floor and tier loading methods. CC-130J simulated missions in the Fuselage Trainer and during Engine Running Operations are scheduled for this portion of the course. Simulated patients and missions will be used for training.
Course capacity/rank
The AECM Course is normally run with a maximum of 10 students per course. Candidates can be Officers and/or Non-Commissioned Members.
Course prerequisites
International students must be equivalent to one of the following CF military occupations:
- Medical Officer
- Nursing Officer
- Physician Assistant
- Medical Technician
International students must be able to read, comprehend, verbally communicate and receive instructions in English. International students must be medically and dentally fit for aircrew employment in accordance with the standards of their own Air Forces. They must have attended aeromedical physiology training in Canada or their own country.
International students are expected to arrive on course with seasonally appropriate flying clothing, military identification, military identity disks (dog tags), travel visa and a valid passport.
Course duration/frequency
426 Transport Training Squadron has the capacity to run three AECM courses per year, comprised of 33 training days, including five days of distance learning and a four-day North American Tactical Training Mission.