text: Air Assault Planning
  9-74. Medicaland casualtyevacuationaircraftnormallyare under operationalcontrolto the AATFduring
  air assault operations. The air mission commander (AMC) controls the medical evacuation flights to
  facilitate quick deconfliction of airspace. The AMC clears all medical and casualty evacuation aircraft
  movements, to include launch and landings. The AATFC may retain launch authority, but the AMC is
  responsibleformedicalevacuation.
  9-75. Typically, requests for medical or casualty evacuation is over the combat aviation network for the
  duration of the air assault operation until an evacuation network, if necessary, is established. This ensures
  goodcoordinationfordeconflictionoffiresandairspace.Whenplanningmedicalevacuationoperations—
  (cid:122) Sendmedicalevacuationaircraftintosecurelandingzones(LZs)ifpossible.
  (cid:122) IntegrateattackreconnaissanceaviationunitstoprovideescortandLZoverwatchasrequired.
  (cid:122) EnsureterminalguidanceintotheLZ.
  (cid:122) Ensure redundant means of communication with the supporting medical evacuation assets
  throughouttheairassault.
  (cid:122) Designate a medical evacuation officer in charge, typically a medical officer from the
  brigade support medical company, to ride on mission command aircraft to receive and
  prioritizeevacuation mission requestsand forwardthis information totheAMCforlaunch.
  CASUALTY BACKHAUL
  9-76. The AATF staff and aviation unit staff plan the combined use of aerial and ground medical and
  casualty evacuation assets during air assault planning. While assaulting aircraft may backhaul wounded
  fromtheLZ,thetimerequiredtoloadandunloadcasualtiescoulddesynchronizetheairmovementtable.
  9-77. Casualty evacuation during an air assault may cause delays in air assault missions unless spare
  aircraft are committed to replace aircraft designated to backhaul casualties. Designating separate casualty
  evacuation aircraft may prevent delays of follow-on lifts. Procedures for casualty backhaul during an air
  assaultareasfollows:
  (cid:122) Medical evacuation request goes to mission command aircraft. The medical officer onboard
  relaysthe request to the AMC. Ifthe request isapproved, the AMCdirectsthe next serial’s last
  two aircraft (dependent on METT-TC) to move to the LZ casualty collection point to pick up
  casualtiesafterdroppingoffpersonnel.
  (cid:122) AllbackhauledcasualtiesaretakenbacktothePZcasualtycollectionpoint.
  (cid:122) BackhaulaircraftwithcasualtiesnotifyPZcontroltheyareinboundwithcasualties.
  (cid:122) Lastserialofthe finallift makes the finalpickup ofcasualtiesbefore theconclusionoftheair
  assault,ifnecessary.
  MEDICAL EVACUATION LANDING ZONE
  9-78. During air assault planning, the AATF staff and AMC plan the combined use of air medical
  evacuationand aerial casualtyevacuation landingzones.The AATF plansa meansofmarking the casualty
  collection point for air medical or assault aircrew identification. Preferred LZ signaling methods include
  smoke or panel markers (VS-17 panel marker) during the day and strobe or chemical lights (not blue or
  green which are not visible under night vision goggles) at night. If air assault crews evacuate casualties,
  they must know where to take themand how to rejoin remaining lift aircraft for subsequent lifts. Using a
  backhaul LZ within the normal assault PZ, FARP, or both can minimize disruption of the loading plan
  whilehelpingmaintainserialintegrity.
  9-79. Adedicated medicalevacuationLZmaybe used forbothair medicalandaerialcasualtyevacuation.
  MedicalevacuationLZselectionandproceduresinclude—
  9-80. Adedicated medicalevacuationLZmaybe used forbothair medicalandaerialcasualtyevacuation.
  MedicalevacuationLZselectionandproceduresinclude—
  (cid:122) SelectLZsthatarelevelandclear ofdebriswithina50-meterradius.
  (cid:122) KeepallotherlightsourcesawayfromtheLZunlessinstructedotherwisebyaircrew.
  (cid:122) Oncemedicalevacuationaircraftareinbound,makeanestimatedtime-of-arrivalcall.