The Hazards of Aeromedical Evacuation

摘要

In the United Kingdom, the National Health Service (NHS) quickly found itself overwhelmed as cases rose, especially with hospital admissions. On 23 March 2020, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the country would enter lock-down, with the general public having to stay inside their homes except for essential journeys, and to isolate from all contact with others if they felt any symptoms, for a proposed period of 12 weeks. Those not restricted by these new rules were classified as 'key workers', which included medical and hospital personnel, engineers, and public sector workers. To assist in the effort to combat the virus, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) mobilised units to support the civilian authorities. The Aviation Task Force was formed in Scotland, the north of England and in the south of the country. All battlefield support helicopters in the UK fall under the Joint Helicopter Command (JHC), be it the Army Air Corps (AAC) Boeing Leonardo (AgustaWest-land) WAH-64D (and soon to be Boeing AH-64E Guardian), and the Leonardo AW159 Wildcat, the Royal Air Force Boeing Chinook (MK4/5/6), and Airbus Helicopters Puma HC2, or the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm (FAA) Leonardo Merlin MK3 and MK4, and Leonardo AW159 Wildcat. The JHC established the Aviation Task Force COVID Support Force (ATF CSF).