Press Release (96)97 21 June 1996

PfP Seminar on the Conversion and Use of Civil Aircraft for Aeromedical Evacuation to be held in Stockholm, Sweden, 1-3 July 1996 Within the framework of the Partnership for Peace (PfP) a Seminar on Conversion and Use of Civil Aircraft for Aeromedical Evacuation will be held from 1-3 July 1996 in Stockholm, Sweden. The Swedish host for the Seminar is the Swedish National Board of Civil Emergency Preparedness. It is open to participants from NATO and Partner countries. The Seminar, which is sponsored by the NATO Civil Aviation Planning Committee and the NATO Joint Medical Committee, is intended for emergency planners in Ministries of Transport, Health Ministries, Ministries of Defence, Military Commands and Civil Protection Organisations involved in emergency evacuation. During the Seminar, 70 participants from NATO and Partner countries will exchange practical information and experience on conceptual aspects of the conversion and use of civil aircraft for aeromedical evacuation purposes. This exchange could facilitate discussion and dialogue on technical conversion, use of medical equipment, medical crew requirements and casualty flow management. Against this background, the following main topics will be dealt with: international civilian and military organisational aspects of aeromedical evacuation; aeromedical operational experience; technical experience in converting civil aircraft; medical aspects of aeromedical evacuation; NATO standardization. In addition to these topics, the Swedish host will provide a practical demonstration at Arlanda airport on the conversion of a civil MD-80 aircraft into an aeromedical evacuation version. The Director General of the Swedish National Board of Civil Emergency Preparedness, Mr. Sture Ericson, will open the Seminar and Col.Dr. Eric Rödig, Office of the German Air Force Surgeon General, will give the keynote address. Four Cooperation Partner nations and six NATO nations will provide presentations, in addition to the NATO Headquarters, SHAPE and the United Nations - Department of Humanitarian Affairs. Further information can be obtained from Mr. Martin Klingsheim/Mr. Evert G.J. Somer, Civil Emergency Planning Directorate, NATO, Brussels, tel: (intl +) 32-2-707.4806/4069 or Mr. Olle Jonsson/Ms Eva Johansson, Swedish National Board of Civil Emergency Preparedness, tel: (intl +) 46-8-691.1316/1236.