LRAFB serving as the focal point for hurricane aeromedical teams Published Sept. 11, 2008 By 080911 9/11/08 - LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. -- Three C-130 planes from the 50th Airlift Squadron, 53rd Airlift Squadron, and 62nd Airlift Squadron were deployed beginning last night from Little Rock Air Force Base to perform aeromedical missions in preparation for Hurricane Ike's landfall in southern Texas with seven additional C-130s from the base on "standby" status. The aircrews are transporting post-surgery/post-intensive care unit (ICU) patients from area hospitals in McAllen, Brownsville, Corpus Christi, and Harlingen to Dallas, Texas, medical facilities. Five aeromedical evacuation teams (AET), which provide in-flight immediate on-scene emergency medical care for patients from the disaster area, and six critical care air transport (CCAT) teams- known as "the ICU on an aircraft" - were deployed. All teams are made up of active duty, Guard, and Reserve military personnel. AETs are made up of two flight nurses and three flight medical technicians while CCATs are comprised of one critical care flight nurse, one critical care doctor, and one respiratory technician. Currently, 200 aeromedical personnel are on hand at Little Rock AFB, which is serving as the hub for all aeromedical operations during Hurricane Ike. The base was also the command cell for Hurricane Gustav, evacuating over 300 patients from locations in Beaumont, Texas, Lake Charles and Lake Front, La., into Little Rock International Airport. For more information, please contact 314th Airlift Wing Public Affairs at 501-987-3601.