Figure 7-5. C-141 (Starlifter).
c. Domestic System. This is a daily system of flights that operates in the
CONUS. This system is unique in that the aircraft and flight crews are assigned to the
aeromedical system. This is only system possessing dedicated aeromedical evacuation
aircraft. The aircraft currently used is the C-9 (Nightingale), which is a modified version
of the commercial DC-9 configured specially for patient transport (figure 7-6). The
environment provided on this aircraft is comparable to first class accommodations on a
commercial airliner. Most specialized equipment available on a hospital ward can be
provided aboard the C-9, including isolation and humidity control for selected patients.
The principal disadvantage of this system is that because of the routing of missions, a
patient may not go directly to his destination but may make several stops enroute.
Figure 7-6. C-9 (Nightingale).
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