Peterson supports delayed MEDEVAC flight Published March 12, 2007 By Steve Brady 21st Space Wing Public Affairs PETERSON AFB, Colo. -- Team Pete sprang into action Feb. 28, meeting patient and flight crew needs for a medical evacuation flight stranded here by weather and mechanical problems. After making an en route stop here to drop off patients bound for Evans Army Hospital at Fort Carson, the medevac flight departed Peterson, only to return in 30 minutes with a maintenance issue. "The aircraft performed several engine runs and was de-iced twice, but then bad weather rolled in and the aircraft commander declared that his crew hours had run out," said Staff Sgt. Kasey Johnson, an airfield management operations supervisor for the 21st Operations Support Squadron. Fort Carson emergency services were notified, but due to the short stay and bad road conditions, they were unable to transfer the patients to Evans. By this time, the seven patients had been on the aircraft for several hours, and it would be several more before a replacement aircraft arrived to move them. A decision was made to move the patients into the distinguished visitor area in the passenger terminal, she said. Like a well-oiled machine, airfield operations, transient alert, passenger terminal, protocol and aerospace medicine squadron personnel all pitched in, providing world-class installation support. Cots, blankets, pillows, food and more poured into the terminal. "Our team made sure all patient and aircrew needs were met," said Lt. Col. Charlie Carlton, 21st Aerospace Medicine Squadron commander. "We ran our (air evacuation) checklist and had our patient admin folks on standby, just in case they needed to come in and help make arrangements for these patients to be transported." The 21st Flight Medicine team, headed by Lt. Col. Jeff Bodin and Maj. Miquelle Miller, evaluated the patients and made sure there were enough medications available during their stay, he said. The team then helped make sure the patients were as comfortable as possible during the wait for the backup flight. The team effort did not go unnoticed. "Everyone pulled together," said Francine Norrod, 21st Space Wing Protocol Operations deputy chief. "The faces on the patients after about 15 minutes in the lounge completely changed. Nothing like 21st Space Wing heart and hospitality to see the cloud temporarily lifted." Col. Liz Anderson, 21st Space Wing individual mobilization augmentee to the commander, also lent a hand to the efforts. "The medevac crew was extremely appreciative," she said. "I said we didn't do anything out of the ordinary for them since this is how we do things here in the 21st Space Wing. "It was really one of those occasions that really makes you proud to be in the 21st, proud to be in the Air Force, and proud to be able to take care of folks who really needed us," Colonel Anderson said. "The crew mentioned over and over that they never get this kind of treatment and were very thankful. They left (March 1) and were still talking about the great service they received here."