(425) 885-9424 | info@wingsworldwide.org

Foundation Overview

Managing Challenges

Reacting with a Plan

How to Maximize

Combining the Best

Securing Today and Preparing for Tomorrow:

Managing the Challenges of Disaster Response & Humanitarian Relief

As the Defense sector, Homeland Security (FEMA), Health and Human Services (HHS), and individual Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) undergo major transformations under the guidelines of the National Response Framework, to meet the new challenges of the ever-increasing war on terror and mother nature’s disasters, doctrines, resources, equipment, and processes must be focused on a single objective: that of preparing and managing for not only single, but also multiple disasters that may occur simultaneously. Terrorist or natural disasters and pre-planned humanitarian missions are diverse; they are emerging events, instant and mobile, requiring the response to be equally responsive and mobile; they can be geo-political disruptions that must be addressed with remote relief; and they can result from continual joint service operations throughout the world. Regardless of the reason, new constraints of interoperability and security will always be a factor in this Nation’s ability to respond immediately and effectively.

This new “response framework” has considerably changed the strategy and priorities of defense agencies, the constantly evolving Department of Homeland Security (FEMA), Health and Human Services, the federal government in general, and NGOs. Funding for preparedness response, as well as training of responders, must not only meet the high standard of integrity, but it must also be cost effective and economical. The response platform itself must be flexible, adaptive, and have a multiple capacity, as well as the capability to respond, not just as a “first responder, but also as an “immediate responder”. To facilitate the increased burden placed on these responsible agencies, currently stretched too thin to meet any “immediate response” capability during a natural or terrorist activity, Wings World Wide – The Air Medical Foundation has the ability to augment existing assets to meet today’s current disaster and humanitarian relief response environment.

Ten years of hands-on research has created the most comprehensive, productive, economical, and “immediately” useful platform, not only for responding, but also for the training of responders. This platform provides for the delivery of pre-planned humanitarian aid during peacetime, as well as an “immediate response” package for natural or terrorist disasters. No such capability exists today in either the military, Federal, or civilian sector. No such platform is planned for under any current government programs.

Reacting with a Plan, not just a Plan to React

Because of our new enemies (terrorists) and our old nemesis (Mother Nature), are multiple and changing, response missions are becoming more and more complex. The critical stake is less in acquiring the relief aid and equipment for each disaster situation, but more in ensuring the operational efficiency of a unique, flexible, and agile response platform. All agencies of the federal government and civilian NGOs must now focus on cost-effective and value-added long-life programs which have international relationship- building capabilities. One key priority must be in the sharing of key assets, not only at the state to state level, but also on the national level with the federal government, as well as with the worldwide network of NGOs and foreign governments. This relationship must be vice versa as well, a two way street. To deliver a large scope of service during disasters, a designated delivery platform, infrastructure, and a sustained re-supply is not just necessary, but imperative. No longer can we just plan to react when a need arises--we must react with a plan that is already in place. Wings World Wide is providing for such a capability and plan.

How to Maximize a Response Impact

Interoperability between military, federal assets, and NGOs, as well as other countries in joint response operations, is a crucial success factor. It comes down to deployability, adaptability, and capability on different fronts, sometimes multiple fronts, sometimes far away, sometimes long term, and most times with unique response requirements. This creates huge requirements in terms of a continual awareness and the prioritizing of “needs verses wants” throughout the world at any given time. Transport, logistic management, and continued sustainability of personnel and equipment are key elements in the planning of Wings World Wide provides the catalyst for the commingling of personnel, supplies, and operations with multiple governments and organizations. Warehousing of initial response/relief equipment and aid for an “immediate response” delivery is another key element. Synonymous with Wings World Wide is the word “immediate”, meaning a response within hours, not just a “first response” capability over days or weeks.

Additionally, Wings World Wide offers the capability to have continual “in the field” training with previously established “first responders.” While awaiting the call to respond to any type of disaster, Wings can coordinate yearly ongoing training events with all NDMS regions as well as DoD medical evacuation and care teams. Blackboard scenarios can display a need and then erase an idea, but not the problem. With the state of regional units in constant flux, there needs to be a continued and disciplined training program to bring all units in compliance with their deployment requirements, as well as currency with equipment and techniques required during any deployment. There needs to be a way to hold units responsible for their rosters and ability to deploy successfully. As first responders are shifted, federal agencies are combined into joint operational tasking or as new departments are created, Wings can provide this continuity. No longer do these units have to become disjointed with each transfer of responsibility.

Further, this capability provides for humanitarian diplomacy in order to enhance the image and reputation of America abroad, such as that responsibility given to the Undersecretary of State in charge of Public Affairs. Wings can be that continual humanitarian diplomat at large, serving the needs of third-world nations, fulfilling the responsibility of the Department of State and building relationships of trust throughout the world.

Combining the Best of Civil and Defense Services

Capitalizing on pre-positioned aircraft, co-located and pre-palletized disaster relief aid, Wings will meet the ever-changing requirement of domestic and international disaster response. Knowing the response time, needs, and capabilities of the government, as well as NGOs, requires a single-source platform with a separate initial cache, with tailored response packages for “wet or dry”, natural or man-made disasters. This is what creates a prescription for success.

As the growing demand for disaster response continues, Wings World Wide – The Air Medical Foundation will continue to invest time and resources into developing the most practical, economical, and capable response platforms to enable all sectors of society to respond in the most timely and effective manner possible. This is not re-inventing the wheel, but augmenting proven and existing assets, in personnel, aid, equipment, and training to meet an ever-changing need. Most importantly, it is doing this domestically within hours, not days, and internationally within a day instead of weeks. It will eliminate a history of late and/or futile response efforts.

Wings has reviewed the response manuals of “Federal Response Framework” and management agencies. The Wings model reduces cost, response time, and exceeds existing response capabilities. This model also meets the requirements set forth in the 9/11 Commission Report while requiring no additional manpower, maintenance, or upkeep in its implementation. Wings’ plan is scalable, flexible, and adaptable!

THE ISSUE: Since long before the terrorist acts of 9/11, there has been a need to find a reliable and economically feasible organization to assemble, maintain, deliver, and distribute disaster and humanitarian aid and medical support. It has been commonly assumed that the Red Cross and International Red Cross/Red Crescent have had the ability to accomplish any and all responses, to any disasters, anywhere in the world. This misconception has gone on entirely too long while these organizations are thick with administration, thin of supplies, devoid of proper funding and absent of any immediate transport capability. On any one day throughout the world there are over 60 wars and 9000 earthquakes, continued famine, and drought. Needless to say, there is a constant need for disaster relief and humanitarian aid. Charitable organizations and agencies of the United States Government, even to include the Department of Defense when requested, have striven to be the first to respond to both domestic and international disasters. However, “first” does not necessarily mean “immediate”. “First” has often meant days or weeks! The organization and delivery of medical and rescue teams, medical supplies, water, food, and shelters has, in the past, been the responsibility of military airlift (TRANSCOM), along with contracted or volunteer airlines. The cost has either been borne through tax dollars, gratis delivery, or donations. The time involved in procuring and deploying these aircraft has taken too long in every case. The minimum deployment time has been, at best, over 48 to 72 hours. This method is neither cost nor operationally effective.

Considering the possible utilization of government transportation resources, commercial air carriers, and private aviation, there is never a guarantee of availability for an “immediate response” to terrorist or natural disaster. Generally, the continued delays experienced in response are due to the lack of an available and appropriate airlift capacity, the delivery of aircraft to point of departure, or an approval of funding. Additional delays can be caused by the reconfiguration of aircraft interiors, the lack of multiple aircrew staffing for extended range flights, the assemblage of response personnel, logistical resources, cargo loading, or aircraft servicing. These are the reasons why it takes days to a week in order to respond. As we know from past deployments, the delayed arrival of search and rescue and medical teams reduces lifesaving opportunities and wastes valuable resources. First response is admirable, but disaster relief requires “immediate” first response”.

THE PROBLEM: In national disaster response, there is no current mechanism in place that can quickly and consistently support government agencies or NGOs in the delivery of resources and personnel. DHS/FEMA and HHS have no transportation capability of their own which can cross the country, traverse disaster-torn areas, or cross submerged highways and the like in any “immediate” fashion. The Government spends over $50 million each year to pre-position aid that often goes unused and is eventually disposed of. Timely delivery is the most important segment of disaster and humanitarian relief. Time saves money, preserves recovery aid and assets, and most of all, instead of costing lives, it saves lives!

Since the end of the first Gulf War in the early 1990’s and the terrorist attacks of 9/11, the transportation assets of the United States government and civilian heavy airlift assets have been greatly depleted. The USAF Nightingale evacuation aircraft have been retired. C-141 aircraft have been retired and the C-17 replacement aircraft are not coming on line in speed and numbers to fill this void. As of January 2008, only 190 C-17s of an unmet 350 aircraft requirement have been ordered, while only 169 have been delivered. C-5A aircraft which are weight- and time limited, are being retired, and those not being retired are not being upgraded fast enough in numbers or capacity. At least five C-5s were retired in just 2008 alone due to an aging fleet. The civilian airline industry, having emerged from the most severe aviation downturn in our nation’s history, has experienced mergers and bankruptcies where hundreds of aircraft have been parked in mothball condition. Further depleting military aviation assets are the ongoing pressing needs of support for Afghanistan, the war in Iraq, and the new South African Command. Any additional conflict in the world will tempt the breaking point of our military airlift capacity and capability. The Department of Homeland Security (FEMA), HHS, or any government agency or department, for that matter, has been told that TRANSCOM aircraft are “the transportation mode of last resort” in responding to any kind of disaster. Since they cannot rely on a military airlift capability, stretched to such an extreme or civilian assets committed at such a high level response delivery assets have been designated to trucking. This just does not meet the typical or enhanced challenges, either domestically or internationally. Domestic and international security has curtailed much of the ongoing and high level of humanitarian service once provided by NGOs. Surging fuel and individual transportation costs have risen to a level where movement of equipment alone, to and from a humanitarian site, can cost over $115,000 per mission. It is becoming increasingly more difficult for individual NGOs to acquire and move equipment and personnel individually and sustain ongoing humanitarian missions. The mandate by the 9/11 Commission required an immediate solution and capability to respond to terrorist attacks. This has not been done, the capability has further diminished, and an “immediate response” remains unavailable today.

THE SOLUTION:  Wings World Wide – The Air Medical Foundation was created to provide humanitarian assistance in both the government and private sector. Designed into Wings’ capabilities is the utilization of existing assets to assist in solving the aforementioned problems. Wings World Wide is structured to serve not only NGOs, but the Federal Government as well, during national disaster first responder situations. It also remains available for national and international man-made and natural disasters. The unique design characteristic of Wings, its integrated organization and aircraft utilization, as well as organization and deployment capabilities, means that no area of the world is out of reach. Delivery forward from any initial landing site of medical aid, personnel, and supplies has been accounted for by the use of appropriate size and utility of aircraft and ground support vehicles. Wings has designed into its operational plan 10 aircraft of diverse capacities and capabilities. Initially, Wings can deploy air crews, medical management staff, appropriate responders with either B-727 or 747 aircraft, for any domestic and international disaster response, depending upon the size and scope of the operation. Wings can fly over ten relief missions within the first 48 hours, starting within three hours.

The largest aircraft is a B747-200AMMF (Air Mobile Medical Facility) with 44 tons of medical and surgical supplies, equipment, and passenger seating for 90. The aircraft can be airborne in three hours after mission notification. Enroute, the aircraft can pick up additional National responders to fill out one or more fully staffed teams. These “immediate” responders can be on site at the disaster area within 6-12 hours domestically and 24 hours internationally. Pre-positioned, for a known upcoming disaster, these units can be onsite within an hour after any incident.

The second aircraft is a B747-200CCA (Combination Cargo Aircraft) which has the capability of being converted in a matter of hours to an all-passenger configuration for mass transport evacuation responses, or a passenger/cargo configuration for relief missions. This aircraft can facilitate such responses as Urban Search and Rescue (USAR), with personnel, equipment, and canines in one carriage. The aircraft can be launched in tandem with the first launch aircraft or separately. These capabilities do not currently exist in any Federal response program today.

The third aircraft, a B747-200HLF (Heavy Lift Freighter), is available for follow-on support and has a capacity of over 120 tons of cargo, or a mixture of palletized seats, cargo, and/or litters. This aircraft can then accommodate re-supply of the “first in” NDMS, IMSURT, and USAR teams or deliver additional teams as the situation evolves. The HLF, configured with seats and litter systems, can evacuate ambulatory and non-ambulatory personnel from disaster sites or U.S. personnel from international high-risk threat areas.

Wings can also provide the same type of lift and configurations in the smaller B727-200CCA combination cargo aircraft. These aircraft can operate into smaller fields at higher elevations with smaller cargo payloads and smaller medical floor plans. The configuration of these aircraft allow for seated passengers, litters, cargo, or any combination thereof. These 727 aircraft can facilitate the immediate movement of “first teams” that may exist in DHS/FEMA, USAR, IMSuRT, CDC, or DOT. These aircraft are ideally suited for the ongoing missions of the Veterans Administration in the movement of disabled and non ambulatory veterans from overseas facilities to stateside hospitals and then on to their local receiving and care facilities in individual states. They are also ideal for continued training missions for air medical evacuation teams.

Onboard all Wings’ aircraft are mission management facilities for support of flight crews and mission staff for both ground and air operations. These facilities have a full complement of aviation radios capable of transmitting and receiving on all bands and frequencies, including satellite communications.

All aircraft have a domestic response capability of hours instead of days and internationally, in days instead of weeks.

To facilitate readiness, increase response capabilities and develop accountability within the ranks of “first responders” Wings can provide ongoing training missions in conjunction with DHS/FEMA, HHS, and NDMS teams, as well as selected government agencies. This training will provide real-time experience and coordination between the operational groups and a familiarity with response equipment. This type of training employment is not available today. Currently, teams are financially supported and team strategy meetings take place. Teams participate in local civic activities to stay familiar with their equipment. However there is little in the way of “mount out” and deployment training available. Aviation assets are just not available for this purpose. With Wings, this is a focal purpose of the Foundation’s support to the “first responder”, to prepare and train. Actual deployment- type training moves responders out of the classroom and into the field, using their equipment in a like-type purpose for which it was intended. Only in this way can we expect responders to be called up, deployed, and employed in the field in an efficient, responsible, and capable manner.

A significant mission of the Department of State is to promote a more positive image abroad.  Wings can continually utilize one or more of its 10 aircraft for pre-planned humanitarian missions on behalf of the DoS or in conjunction with affiliated NGOs. A continued worldwide presence in the humanitarian world would create an evolving and building of relationships and trust. These missions not only do not interfere with response obligations, but they enhance capability, reliability, and performance.

CONCLUSION: Wings World Wide – The Air Medical Foundation has the ability of elevating a “first response” desire to an “immediate response” capability: the delivery of medical and disaster relief in a more timely manner than currently exists. No longer, in emergent situations, will there be a delay in deploying critical assets. No longer do aircraft have to be pulled from commercial service and retrofitted over a period of days while victims await relief. Wings’ “swap and drop” conversion process allows its fleet to be operational and airborne in a matter of hours.

A wide variety of missions assigned to various federal departments and agencies will now have a delivery or response platform dedicated to them and available immediately, without TRANSCOM, as a last transportation resort, having to pull from an over-burdened fleet, or procure from outside commercial aviation vendors, which can take days.

Continual hands-on and real-time training is now available to first responders of HHS and DHS/ FEMA, as well as TRANSCOM medical evacuation crews. Multiple training missions per year from dedicated aircraft, will provide first responders with significantly enhanced “in service” in deployment and employment in the field. This is what enables “first responders” to become “immediate responders”, being familiar with deployment practices and equipment, as well as becoming more proficient for when actual emergencies occur. Most importantly, they will be able to maintain currency and be held accountable in attendance. This allows the Federal agencies with oversight to have an expectancy level they can rely on and know to what level they are trained. Wings will maintain a national data base of volunteer responders, thus enabling the system to know just how many stops will be required to constitute at least one full team. This will eliminate the current practice of having too few show up during a mobilization, arriving disjointed and arriving days too late.

No longer will first responders be required to take their cache out of their area. Wings will control three separate such caches of its own in its “immediate response” cache build-up and have it co-located with the aircraft in order to on-load immediately for each type of disaster response. In the event that a disaster occurs in a region while any responders are supporting other areas of the country, all NDMS caches are still in place, in their respective Regions and ready for use by remaining local responders. Responders onboard the “immediate response” aircraft will be thoroughly familiar with their immediate- use items because they are the same which they have trained on. This saves time and time saves lives!

TRANSCOM will have a unique asset, a fleet of aircraft available to them for their use when special needs arise. They will not have to search out and procure aircraft which will then, in-turn, have to be retrofitted for a specific use and then flown to an even different point of departure. They will not have to assure that three aircraft are available for one mission, a historical reliability issue.

The Department of State and NGOs will now have a continually available asset to accomplish pre-planned medical humanitarian missions. Commingled or on independent missions, NGOs will be able to accomplish more in less time, at more locations simultaneously, with more volunteer professionals than ever before and at a far reduced cost than they are presently experiencing.

This model is cost effective, does not require additional manpower to maintain, or incur additional cost for maintenance. Once operational, it sustains itself. The cost for just DHS/FEMA or shared among many user departments and agencies amortizes a cost structure at just a fraction of what they currently expend to do less and amounts to just a fraction of 1% of annual waste in pre-positioning, prevention and reaction scenarios and past humanitarian aid delivery missions which were unsuccessful.

Thus, Wings World Wide – The Air Medical Foundation is presenting this capability to provide the “missing link” in this absent, but necessary response requirement and delivery platform. A proposal of this magnitude requires long-term people doing long-term work. This is why leadership from the President on down through the Secretary of Homeland Security and the 9/11 Commission, including the most recent “National Response Framework” has directed the creation of cooperative efforts and partnerships with the private sector. This is where the required continuity and continued efforts will remain, regardless of administration changes or the suffering of the politics of different administrations and political parties.

Taking the underlying thought and words directly from the 9/11 Report and applying them to response, instead of to prevention, Wings will provide an asset that is not just funded for and left sitting idle,  but one that is constantly in use, training and educating until the dreadful day of deployment is required. It is cost effective and can be multi-tasked, instead of just being a single-use or one time used asset. It is not just a reserve unit that does nothing until called up, but one that can be continually used on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis, supporting everyday man-made or natural disasters; or pre-planned humanitarian missions throughout the nation and the world; continually coordinating between State, Federal, and International bodies. It is “immediate response”, not just “first response.” It doesn’t just get there first, it gets there fast. Wings preserves DoD assets for Defense Department roles while reducing costs and does not require time-consuming requisition and retrofit. This capability provides for transportation and medical facilities to be deployed in a more efficient manner than is currently available, if it is or even has ever been available at all.

Finally, this capability meets the 9/11 Commission’s recommendation that “ways need to be found that project a better image of America throughout the world.” No better or economical way is available to accomplish this. Wings World Wide – The Air Medical Foundation is providing this Nation a disaster relief program that provides for training, augmentation of existing assets, and an “immediate” response capability.

It is just the thing to do, because it’s the right thing to do, the right fix for a gaping hole, and a plan to react with instead of a plan just to react. Wings eliminates the weakest link, becomes the missing link, and fills the 24-48-72 hour gap. The void is filled! Continuing to do what has already been done only guarantees the ability to achieve what has already been achieved. In this case, too little, too late!

[Back to Top...]

Wings World Wide © 2008. All Rights Reserved.