Strategic aeromedical evacuation

Medical capability: The aeromedical teams can evacuate up to three high dependency intensive care patients on respirator, in addition to multiple seats and stretchers. They can also evacuate up to 6 infectious patients in isolation units. In previous operations evacuating Ukrainian patients the teams has handled severely injured and sick patients, including cancer, major amputations, head injuries, thoracic defects, septic infections and patients with extensive and lagre burn injuries. These have been patients of all ages, including children.

The medical personnel on board the aircrafts consist of personnel from the NAFJMS. This is specially selected and trained personnel. The healthcare personnel have extensive experience, including intensive care units, anesthesia departments, air ambulances, ambulances, etc. A standard medical team for both aircraft types consists of a team leader (Medical Crew Director), an anesthesiologist (MD), anesthetist nurse, intensive care nurse, registered nurse, and paramedic. The team is reinforced as needed.

Strategic aeromedical evacuation operations is led by Norwegian Armed Forces Joint Headquarters and executed by NAFJMS in close and joint collaboration with, for example, other military units, the Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Directorate for Civil Protection, the Directorate of Health, and the Oslo University Hospital. This will depend on the situation

The two types of aircrafts that can be utilized are the C-130J (Hercules) from the RNoAF and the Boeing 737-700 from SAS. Both aircrafts are equipped with stretchers, monitoring equipment, medical pumps and respirators. They are flexible and can be reconfigured with stretchers and seats as medically needed. This includes intensive care patients, litter patients, seated patients, and patients who require accompaniment by relatives. The medical personnel can also be used as medical escorts on regular passenger flights.