Here is a video of my friend's SAREX (Search and Rescue Exercise) in summer 2011. It's not a promotional video, just a regular day on the job! Seems like they are having lots of fun :-)
Notice how the helicopter uses the same pattern as fixed wing aircraft to land (even though in theory they could just fly straight to the ramp). But these are the rules!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MX85TQTr3q0
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Activities During Christmas
Even though most of us get a break from work during Christmas our service men and women from all Search and Rescue Squadrons are either working or at least are on stand by.
My buddy who's flying Hercs in Trenton recently became an AC (Aircraft Commander). It was very interesting to listen to some of his recent stories. Like going on the first flight as an AC and getting a newbie co-pilot. That's when you know that everything is in your hands. I can't imagine how intense some of these first flights must be.
Two of such flights occurred while he was on standby between Christmas and New Years. Both of the calls were about an ELT. These are electronic transmitters that send out a distress signal when an airplane crashes. Usually high fliers like Air Canada or WestJest would pickup the signal while flying over some remote area and advice the SAR center. Then, the Herc gets tasked to go and pinpoint where the signal is coming from.
The first one was from Trois Riviere in Quebec. They flew out there and determined that it was coming from an airport. A ground team was sent out and found out that a truck hit one of the planes on the ground and that activated an ELT. False alarm.
The second time around an ELT signal was coming from around Sherbrooke. It was also a false alarm as an ELT went off in one of the planes in some barn. The weather was bad though and they had to land in Sherbrooke. Apparently the runway was quite icy and as they landed the plane was skidding on ice. I can only imagine what the gut must be feeling in moments like these.
Anyways, he estimated that one of such missions cost about 240,000 dollars (yup, quarter of a million dollars). That's because it takes 30 grand to operate the beast for just one hour (8000 of that is gas alone). So here you go. You get to fly some cool and expensive missions in the army!
My buddy who's flying Hercs in Trenton recently became an AC (Aircraft Commander). It was very interesting to listen to some of his recent stories. Like going on the first flight as an AC and getting a newbie co-pilot. That's when you know that everything is in your hands. I can't imagine how intense some of these first flights must be.
Two of such flights occurred while he was on standby between Christmas and New Years. Both of the calls were about an ELT. These are electronic transmitters that send out a distress signal when an airplane crashes. Usually high fliers like Air Canada or WestJest would pickup the signal while flying over some remote area and advice the SAR center. Then, the Herc gets tasked to go and pinpoint where the signal is coming from.
The first one was from Trois Riviere in Quebec. They flew out there and determined that it was coming from an airport. A ground team was sent out and found out that a truck hit one of the planes on the ground and that activated an ELT. False alarm.
The second time around an ELT signal was coming from around Sherbrooke. It was also a false alarm as an ELT went off in one of the planes in some barn. The weather was bad though and they had to land in Sherbrooke. Apparently the runway was quite icy and as they landed the plane was skidding on ice. I can only imagine what the gut must be feeling in moments like these.
Anyways, he estimated that one of such missions cost about 240,000 dollars (yup, quarter of a million dollars). That's because it takes 30 grand to operate the beast for just one hour (8000 of that is gas alone). So here you go. You get to fly some cool and expensive missions in the army!
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Drug Bust in the Caribbean
I've recently chatted with a buddy who initially wanted to fly but then became a navigator. He also joined at the same time as me and he informed that the contract for navigators is shorter, only 4 years. So he is almost done his required duty and now must decide if he will stay longer.
He mentioned a cool story from a few weeks ago in the Caribbean. They were awaken at night by the alarm bell and a repeating message "flying station", "flying station", while asleep on the ship. There was a fast boat detected by Aurora aircraft, moving at 50 miles per hour. Assistance from the Sea King crew was requested. They were just off the cost of Nicaragua.
My buddy's job as a navigator was to plot the location of the boat on the map and direct the pilots to it. They flew on night vision goggles and soon found the culprit who was still moving fast. At the same time an American Law Enforcement boat (part of US Cost Guard) was sent to their location. While awaiting support they followed the boat at 1000 ft (lights off and on night vision). However, when the support got closer they turned on the high power spot light (he was the one controlling it) and surprised the drug runners. They in turn stopped the boat and started dumping 500 kilos of drugs over board. Next they all raised their arms.
I can't imagine the adrenaline rush during such an operation. Not to mention the required skills to be able to navigate and find a moving target at night. Unfortunately he didn't have any photos but I found a cool video on a very similar chase but during day light
Drug bust - over 2 tons of marijuana and $8 million worth of other drugs
He mentioned a cool story from a few weeks ago in the Caribbean. They were awaken at night by the alarm bell and a repeating message "flying station", "flying station", while asleep on the ship. There was a fast boat detected by Aurora aircraft, moving at 50 miles per hour. Assistance from the Sea King crew was requested. They were just off the cost of Nicaragua.
My buddy's job as a navigator was to plot the location of the boat on the map and direct the pilots to it. They flew on night vision goggles and soon found the culprit who was still moving fast. At the same time an American Law Enforcement boat (part of US Cost Guard) was sent to their location. While awaiting support they followed the boat at 1000 ft (lights off and on night vision). However, when the support got closer they turned on the high power spot light (he was the one controlling it) and surprised the drug runners. They in turn stopped the boat and started dumping 500 kilos of drugs over board. Next they all raised their arms.
I can't imagine the adrenaline rush during such an operation. Not to mention the required skills to be able to navigate and find a moving target at night. Unfortunately he didn't have any photos but I found a cool video on a very similar chase but during day light
Drug bust - over 2 tons of marijuana and $8 million worth of other drugs
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