Royal Canadian Air Force Doctrine Applied to Saskatchewan Medevac: Examining the Use of a Centralized Command.
Air medical journal · 2026-01-01 · Method & validation
Abstract
Saskatchewan relies extensively on air transport to deliver acute care to remote regions. This article applied Royal Canadian Air Force air power doctrine to evaluate and optimize the province's civilian medevac system. Doctrinal analysis was used to assess existing medevac coordination structures. Operational modeling, including an optimized combined air operations model, was developed to compare the efficiency of fixed- and rotary-wing transport across representative provincial locations. Data were analyzed for time to tertiary care. The application of air power principles, including centralized control, decentralized execution, and a common operating picture, identified significant opportunities to enhance responsiveness and increase efficiency. Modeling showed that the correct selection of transport modality improves efficiency by up to 42%, with fixed-wing aircraft favored beyond approximately 150 miles from Saskatoon. The analysis demonstrates that Saskatchewan's current air medical system could achieve improved safety, timeliness, and efficiency through a centralized command structure. Establishing a provincial medevac operations center would enable real-time tasking, integrated situational awareness through a common operating picture, and better alignment of air assets with clinical needs.