3-May-2021 Source: US National Guard Airmen from the 152nd Medical Group participated in joint aeromedical training featuring UH-60 Blackhawk aircraft with the Nevada Army National Guard in Reno-Stead, Nev., April 10, 2021. “Today we did joint hot and cold load training,” said Sgt. Mason Burkhart, a critical care flight paramedic from the medical evacuation unit in Reno-Stead. “We practice loading patients on the aircraft and off the aircraft under different conditions.” The exercise went through three phases featuring different conditions. The first phase featured a static rotor, and was a “crawl phase” to get the airmen and soldiers accustomed to the exercise before entering a more realistic scenario. The next phase was with the aircraft on and the blades moving, eliminating the element of verbal communication and required participants to use hand signals to communicate throughout the exercise. The final phase consisted of a situation where the aircraft flies in traffic patterns and the participants on-load and off-load patients in a timely manner.