text: Chapter 3
  AUTHORIZATION
  3-166. The use of Army AE assets for missions requires both a medical mission approval authority and a
  launch authority, as specified by the senior commander.
  MEDICAL MISSION APPROVAL AUTHORITY
  3-167. Medical mission authority begins at the theater-level through the creation of the theater evacuation
  policy and the medical rules of eligibility documents by appropriate medical officers. Once approved, these
  documents are published through the orders process and become the foundation for what constitutes a valid
  medical mission. For AE missions, the medical approval authority is accomplished by verifying the details
  of the 9-line MEDEVAC request with the policy contained in the theater evacuation policy and/or medical
  rules of eligibility. Once confirmed that the mission request falls within the established theater guidance,
  the request becomes an approved medical mission. The validation of the medical necessity to generate a
  requirement can include—
  * Transport of a casualty.
  * Patient precedence.
  * Requirement for blood or blood products.
  * An emergency resupply of medical-related supplies, equipment, or personnel.
  URGENT AND URGENT-SURGICAL MISSION REQUESTS
  3-168. Department of Defense policy dictates the standard completion time for approved URGENT and
  URGENT-SURGICAL MEDEVAC mission requests as 1 hour, with the time beginning to elapse once the
  MEDEVAC mission request is received by evacuation elements and stopping when the patient is delivered
  to the appropriate medical treatment facility.
  LAUNCH AUTHORITY
  3-169. The aviation commander considers the collective risk assessment of the mission and determines
  final execution or launch authority. The operational aspects related to the collective risk assessment
  include, but are not limited to—
  * Patient care requirement (most important factor).
  * The threat or enemy actions.
  * ROE.
  * Weather.
  * Fighter management.
  * Escort requirements.
  * Overall tactical situation.
  3-170. It is essential for commanders to have documented procedures in place when pre-authorizing AE
  missions. AE launch approval procedures must delineate between appropriate approval levels for different
  priorities of AE requests. Brigade commanders are authorized to delegate launch approval authority to
  subordinate commanders for certain missions according to AR 40-3 and AR 95-1. Commanders may also
  consider authorization procedures which account for single-ship AE missions or en-route linkup with escort
  or security aircraft, when tactically feasible.
  MEDICAL OPERATIONS CELL
  3-171. The medical operations cell in the aviation brigade headquarters provides assistance in planning
  and coordination for air ambulance employment and utilization. The medical operations cell performs the
  following functions:
  * Establishes flight procedures specific to AE missions within the CAB. This may include special
  routes or corridors as well as procedures for escort aircraft link-up.