SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. (USTCNS) --- The most recognizable aircraft here will be undergoing a minor face-lift as the Air Force has directed the removal of the red cross emblem from the service's C-9A Nightingale fleet in a move expected to expand the use of the aircraft.

The 375th Airlift Wing here is the only stateside Air Force Wing to fly the C-9A Nightingale. There are currently 10 C-9As assigned here.

The C-9A Nightingale is mainly used as an Aeromedical Evacuation aircraft to fly Department of Defense patients to needed medical care. The red cross on the tail is easily recognizable from a great distance and is internationally considered a sign of a non-combatant, or a non-hostile force.

International law under the Geneva Convention limits the use of aircraft bearing a red cross to fly only medical missions. Based on this, the Air Force will remove the emblem so the C-9 fleet can be used for other missions. However, the area will be left uncovered to allow the emblem to be reapplied in support of a contingency or wartime operation.

"We're going from permanently painted emblem to a decal," said Capt. Joe Heilhecker, 375th Maintenance Squadron, maintenance supervisor. "The only time we'll put them (the decal) on is when we're going into a theater of operations with hostilities when we're only moving wounded." When used, the red cross decal will still appear on the tail, only it will be placed forward of the rudder centered vertically.

As for when the removal process will begin at Scott hinges on obtaining a source of decal material.

Units have until January 2002 to conduct the removal process in the most efficient and cost effective manner, Air Force officials said.

The removal will not affect mission accomplishment, as it will be conducted during times when the aircraft are scheduled for routine inspection.

"Every six months C-9s are required to have either minor or major inspections," said Heilhecker. "They're down for one week for the inspection and that gives us enough time to remove the red cross and repaint the tail."

While the removal of the red cross emblem on the Air Force C-9A promises a more versatile use of the aircraft, it will require novice plane watchers to learn how to identify the C-9A by more than just the red cross. (FROM SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE PUBLIC AFFAIRS).