Who is authorized to log primary flight time on a medical evacuation mission?

In a medical evacuation mission, the responsibility for logging primary flight time is designated specifically to the flight surgeon. The flight surgeon, being a licensed medical professional, has a crucial role in overseeing the medical aspects of the mission, including monitoring the health and safety of the patients being transported. They are trained to assess the conditions during the flight and manage any medical situations that may arise.

Logging primary flight time is an official record-keeping duty that reflects the time a crew member spends actively engaged in flight operations, but in this context, it directly relates to the protective measures and protocols established for patient care. The flight surgeon’s involvement in this aspect demonstrates the interdependence of aviation and medical care in ensuring both compliance and safety during missions.

While flight crew members may be actively flying the aircraft, it is the flight surgeon who documents the medical-related aspects, including their oversight during the flight. Other roles, such as maintenance personnel and ground support staff, focus on operational or logistical tasks rather than pilot or medical flight time documentation, making the flight surgeon the correct authority to log primary flight time in this specific scenario.