News

T-1A transports transplant candidate

  • Published
  • By Sonic Johnson
  • 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  A whole new meaning for Family Day was created at Columbus AFB Thursday.
An 8-year old liver transplant candidate is one step closer to getting a new organ. Ryan McCalip, son of Maj. Randy and Heather McCalip, were notified shortly after 5 a.m. Thursday morning that there was a donor match in Pittsburg, Penn.
Major McCalip is the chief of aerospace physiology in the 14th Medical Group at Columbus AFB. A Columbus-based T-1 launched on the short-notice medical evacuation mission Thursday at 8:20 a.m., 1 hour and 55 minutes after being notified.
While Columbus AFB is a pilot training facility, it had done some similar alert operations during the Hurricane Katrina recovery. Work on the Medical Evacuation plan began back in August of 2006, designed a coordination matrix to get the support needed to get a T-1 launched, especially outside of normal duty hours.
To be eligible for a transplant, young Ryan would have to be on the operating table in Pittsburg within 6 hours of being notified. With no commercial or charter operations in the area that could meet the criteria, Major McCalip asked if a T-1 could be used.
"Since the planning was completed in January 2007, the 48th Flying Training Squadron has had a crew and aircraft on alert 24/7" according to Maj. Chuck Sanders, assistant director of operations for the 48th FTS.
While most of Columbus AFB was enjoying an Air Education and Training Command Family Day on Thursday with most base functions, including the airfield, scheduled to be closed, members of the 48th FTS put their Medical Evacuation coordination plan into effect.
Piloted by Capt. John Cudar and 1st Lt. Cory Henwood, the plane was air born less than 2 hours after notification.
"It is appropriate to support one of our Columbus AFB families on the AETC Family Day," said Col. Eric Theisen, 14th Operations Group commander.
In addition to it being an AETC Family Day, many support agencies where still cleaning up the airfield after the previous evening's 4th of July fireworks display. 
"It was great to see the teamwork to make this mission happen, and it went very smoothly according to plan" said Major Sanders. 
"Twenty minutes after departing Columbus, the air traffic controllers coordinated direct routing to our destination when they found out we were a MEDEVAC flight," according to Captain Cudar. "After the 1 hour and 34 minute flight to Allegheny County Airport in  Pennsylvania the aircraft arrived with its special passengers. 
Now the final testing and waiting begins.
"Operations like this are not common in AETC. We are blessed to be able to support the McCalip family," Colonel Dave Gerber, 14th Flying Training Wing commander said. "It will take courage and family strength to get Ryan through the next three months and we are looking forward to their return to Columbus AFB healthy and on a road to recovery.".