Wake-up call in the desert.(AEROMEDICAL--FATIGUE)

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I have been told Navy flying is far more dangerous than Army flying. The argument asserts that flying over land affords you terrain references and contrasts, more accessible fuel, and emergency-landing sites; all you have at sea is an infinite expanse of water. The hole in this argument never was more apparent to me than following a recent near-mishap I experienced.

Countless overland flights in Kuwait and southern Iraq have taught me the overland environment should not be taken lightly. Some of the flying is easier and even safer, but the desert quickly will remind you that overland flying can be just as dangerous as maritime flying, if not more so at times.

As with many mishaps, my near-mishap resulted from several causal factors, rather than one isolated factor. My incident occurred in the expanse between Udairi, Kuwait, and Tallil, Iraq, which the local Army helicopter pilots not-so-endearingly call, "Davey Jones Locker." During my several months with the 2515th MedEvac Unit, I had completed countless patient transfers between Tallil and the Expeditionary Medical Facility in Arifjan, Kuwait. This medevac appeared to be no different.

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It started like all others, with "Medevac, medevac, medevac, 1st and 2nd up" broadcast over the squadron radios. It was 0230 in the morning, so I rushed out of bed, suited up, geared up, and ran to start the helicopter. Tallil had an Army sergeant experiencing testicular torsion (a terribly painful twisting of the testicles), and they wanted to move him to Arifjan for surgery as soon as possible. My crew was assigned wing responsibilities for the flight, and the other aircraft would pick up patient.

WE SPUN UP AND LIFTED without incident. As we checked out with the Kuwait air-traffic controllers and pressed toward Iraq, we anticipated the flight would be yet another routine run between the two bases. Little did we know that the "Swiss cheese" holes were lining up.