AF Form 3905: C-130 Patient Positioning Plan (2026 Guide)

AF Form 3905: C-130 Patient Positioning Plan (2026 Guide) – The AF Form 3905, officially titled C-130 Patient Positioning Plan (LRA), is a critical U.S. Air Force document used in aeromedical evacuation (AE) operations. It helps plan and document the safe placement of patients—especially litter patients—onboard the versatile C-130 Hercules aircraft during medical transport missions.

This form ensures compliance with safety protocols, optimizes aircraft configuration for patient care, accounts for emergency exits, and supports effective in-flight medical management. It remains an essential tool for AE crews, flight nurses, aeromedical technicians, and mission planners involved in tactical intra-theater patient movements.

What Is AF Form 3905 Used For?

AF Form 3905 serves as a patient positioning plan specifically tailored for the C-130 platform. Its primary purpose is to:

  • Map out exact locations for litter patients, ambulatory patients, and required medical equipment.
  • Document mission details including route, onload/offload stations, and patient load.
  • Identify special patient considerations (e.g., cardiac, seizure, suicide risk, dietary needs).
  • Mark ground escape exits, baggage placement, and safety-critical areas.
  • Support weight and balance calculations while ensuring access for medical personnel.

The form is particularly valuable because the C-130 can be rapidly reconfigured for aeromedical roles, carrying up to 74 litter patients depending on the setup, making precise positioning essential for safety and care delivery.

It integrates with the broader AF Form 3899 series (such as patient movement records and flow sheets) and aligns with DAFI 48-107 (En Route Care and Aeromedical Evacuation Medical Operations) and related C-130 configuration guidance.

Key Features and Structure of AF Form 3905

The form (dated 19960301, EF-V2) includes both front and reverse sides with diagrams and tables:

  • Header Information: Mission number, mission date, and route/load details with columns for Station, Onload, Offload, and Onboard counts.
  • Special Patient Information Symbols: Quick visual cues such as:
      • = Special diet / Diabetic
    • O = Seizures
    • Specific markers for suicide precautions, cardiac patients, and hatches/exits.
  • Aircraft Layout Diagrams: Detailed floor plans showing numbered seats (e.g., positions 1-22) and litter tiers (labeled with letters like G(5), H(5), etc.).
  • Configuration Options: References to AE-1, AE-2, AE-3, AE-4 setups, with variations for different litter/seat combinations (e.g., 30 litters/44 seats, up to 70-74 litters with minimal seats).
  • Safety Elements: Markings for ground escape exits (e.g., E(5), F(5), A(5)), ramp areas, wheel well seats, and baggage placement (RAMP or BAGGAGE).
  • Notes Section: Specific guidance, including applicability to certain aircraft serials (e.g., 83-0486 and up).

The layout accounts for the C-130’s cargo compartment flexibility, including litter tier provisions, oxygen and electrical system access, and crew movement paths.

Why Proper Patient Positioning Matters on the C-130?

The C-130 Hercules has served as a mainstay of U.S. Air Force aeromedical evacuation since the Vietnam era. Its ability to operate from austere airfields, combined with configurable litter capacity and support for Critical Care Air Transport Teams (CCATT), makes it ideal for tactical and contingency operations.

Correct positioning on AF Form 3905 helps:

  • Minimize physiological risks: Proper head orientation (forward on takeoff, aft on landing) reduces motion-related complications.
  • Ensure medical access: AE crews (typically two flight nurses and three aeromedical technicians) need clear pathways for monitoring and intervention.
  • Maintain safety and balance: Account for emergency exits, equipment weight, infection control (when applicable), and airflow.
  • Support mission efficiency: Facilitate onload/offload at multiple stations while complying with aircraft operating limits.

Factors considered include patient acuity, infectious disease status, required equipment (e.g., portable liquid oxygen/PTLOX on C-130), and crew complement.

How to Use AF Form 3905?

  1. Mission Planning Phase: AE crews and medical planners review the patient movement request, determine the required configuration (e.g., AE-1 or modified), and sketch the layout on the form.
  2. Populate Patient Data: List patients by station, note special needs using symbols, and assign litter or seat positions.
  3. Incorporate Safety & Config Details: Mark exits, baggage, and any modifications to standard setups.
  4. Coordination: Share with load planners, pilots, and the aeromedical evacuation crew to validate weight/balance and operational feasibility.
  5. Documentation: Retain as part of the mission record alongside other AE forms.

Download the Official AF Form 3905 Here:
https://static.e-publishing.af.mil/production/1/af_sg/form/af3905/af3905.pdf

Always verify you are using the most current version through the official Air Force e-Publishing site.

  • DAFI 48-107V1: En Route Care and Aeromedical Evacuation Medical Operations (establishes standards of care).
  • AFMAN 11-2AE Series: Guidance on AE training, evaluation, and operations.
  • C-130 Specific Manuals: AFMAN 11-2C-130J Volume 3 Addenda for configuration and mission planning.
  • Supporting Forms: AF Form 3899 series for patient assessments, medications, and in-flight records.

For the latest instructions, consult the Air Force e-Publishing portal or your unit’s aeromedical evacuation squadron guidance.

Conclusion

AF Form 3905 plays a vital role in ensuring safe, effective patient transport on the C-130 during aeromedical evacuation missions. By providing a standardized visual and documented plan for patient positioning, it supports the U.S. Air Force’s ability to deliver life-saving en route care across tactical environments.

Whether you are an AE crewmember, flight surgeon, load planner, or involved in disaster response patient movement, mastering this form contributes directly to mission success and patient outcomes.

Keywords: AF Form 3905, C-130 Patient Positioning Plan, aeromedical evacuation C-130, USAF AE forms, litter patient configuration, C-130 Hercules medevac, Air Force medical transport forms.

This article is for informational purposes and references publicly available U.S. Air Force publications. Always follow current official directives and consult your chain of command for operational use.