4 October 2024
A recent routine troop movement task rapidly developed into an emergency medical evacuation response for members of the PNG Defence Force’s Air Transport Wing (ATW) under the watchful eye of the ADF’s Defence Cooperation Program (DCP) members.
PNG Defence Force ATW members had landed at Kiunga to pre-position for a routine insertion and extraction of troops when they received word a soldier at the remote Weam outpost had been bitten by a snake and required immediate evacuation.
ADF DCP member Squadron Leader Cory Fischer was on board the flight as the qualified flying instructor. He spoke of the outstanding performance by the members involved in the unexpected medical evacuation.
“ATW members were able to apply skills and knowledge from their participation only one week earlier in Exercise Pacific Angel 24, which had a practice medical evacuation component, to successfully conduct the activity,” Squadron Leader Fischer said.
“Their maintenance staff were able to prepare the aircraft quickly while the aircrew conducted rapid planning, which allowed us to be airborne in less than an hour from landing. The aircraft was loaded with the engine running to enable a quick departure and prompt delivery of the medic and casualty to the waiting ambulance.”
DCP’s Wing Commander Timothy Shaw said the success of this medical evacuation was also a testament to the progress and results of the DCP’s Flights of Excellence program.
“The Flights of Excellence program represents the ADF’s partnership with [the] PNGDF to support the development of their sovereign air capability. It includes support to the air element’s aviation safety, aircraft maintenance and sustainment, as well as joint training and capacity building activities between the two nations,” Wing Commander Shaw said.
“It has seen the ADF assist the PNGDF’s air element in re-establishing the airworthiness of their first PAC-750XL aircraft in 2021, to now having instilled the knowledge, skills and infrastructure for ATW to successfully conduct an urgent and unexpected medical evacuation from a remote location.”
Commanding Officer ATW Lieutenant Colonel Douglas Vavar was proud of the accomplishments of his personnel and the progress they have made under the Flights of Excellence program.
“Our recent participation in Exercise Pitch Black and Exercise Pacific Angel allowed the unit to measure and test our capacity to carry out specific tasks. To achieve the medical evacuation in Weam was a validation of our continued efforts to grow capability deliberately and safely,” Lieutenant Colonel Vavar said.
“Thanks to the Flights of Excellence program, I have a team of embedded RAAF staff who work within the PNGDF air element enabling access to the best possible advice within the RAAF – all with the aim of building a capable sovereign PNG Air Force. The Flights of Excellence program is the reason why the Air Transport Wing is flying again.”
