CESAR BASA AIR BASE – PAMPANGA, Philippines -- Members from Pacific Air Forces and the Philippine Air Force conducted an aerospace physiology subject matter expert exchange at Cesar Basa Air Base in Pampanga, Philippines, September 9-11.
This SMEE is the first stand-alone aerospace physiology-specific event with the PAF and supports interoperability and coalition-building in the event of a multi-lateral response in the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command area of responsibility.
Maintaining the health and mission capable status of PAF aircrew is vital in extending operational reach, thus enhancing air superiority and maritime security in order to deter aggression and encourage peaceful resolution of territorial disputes in and around the Philippine AOR.
During his opening remarks, U.S. Air Force Col. Robert Craig-Gray, Aerospace Medicine Division chief, Headquarters PACAF Surgeon General Office stated, “This event is intended to develop PAF aviation medicine programs specific for flyers, occupational health, operational medicine, and physiology. It is critical to ensure that the appropriate trainings, relevant to the aircrew and their supporting organization, are explored in order to successfully operate the newly attained fighters.”
The exchange included presentations regarding PAF’s Fighter Aircrew Conditioning Test which comprised of a multi-phased approach in improving a pilot’s overall physical performance. This training helps the pilots in performing the anti-G straining maneuver to combat the effects of G-forces as an aircraft turns. It mitigates potential injuries in the event of an aircraft egress.
Capt. Judd Rogers, Aerospace Physiology Director, 56 Training Squadron emphasized, “Physical conditioning is paramount in preparing inexperienced pilots for the high-G environment and allows trainers to develop more comprehensive workout programming to fit the flyer’s specific needs.”
U.S. Air Force, PAF, and civilian physiology teams, pilots, flight surgeons and medics explored the topics of operational physiology, noise/vibration, night vision & Night Vision Goggle usage, oxygen systems and hypoxic-like events that may occur in operating jet aircrafts during the exchange.
The U.S. Air Force physiology facilitators shared extensive information regarding the Reduced Oxygen Breathing Device, also known as ROBD. The ROBD is an alternative means of conducting refresher hypoxia training for aircrew using mixtures of gasses without the risk of decompression sickness. The presentation will help the PAF decide if submitting a proposal to acquire a similar device is feasible.
A field training exercise was conducted with both PAF and PACAF aerospace physiology teams to demonstrate and share tactics, techniques, and procedures during a simulated emergency reactor exercise in a hypobaric chamber.
“Despite having different training programs, bilateral exchanges are great opportunities for military physiology teams to be able to work together and showcase competencies in responding to the adverse effects of hypoxia during a chamber flight,” said Tech. Sgt. Marion Franco, Aerospace Physiology Non-Commissioned Office In Charge, 23 Aerospace Medicine Squadron,
International health engagements like this SMEE provide diverse perspectives for ally partners to develop problem solving skills in resource constrained environments and share operational practices that can be benchmarked within their respective organizations,” added Senior Master Sgt. Howard Santos, PACAF Surgeon General Office, lead planner for this exchange.
PAF Physiology Training Unit chief, Lt. Col. Robert V. Mara, further stated, “We should focus on documentation and programming of these activities. The ability to record this information and track it independent of events like this will help us prepare our program for future challenges.”