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!
Thursday, January 19, 2012
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
Monday, November 7, 2011
SAR Tech Dies While Rescuing Two Fishermen
A recent search and rescue mission had a sad end to it. The people being rescued survived but not one of the 3 search and rescue (SAR) technicians who jumped out of the C-130 Hercules military aircraft into the icy and stormy waters of the Hecla Strait.
It all begun on Thursday morning, the 27th of October. The Winnipeg search and rescue was already up north and required assistance from Trenton. So they sent out another Herc on a 5 hour flight to Iqaluit, Nunavut to help locate and rescue 2 men stranded on a small fishing boat near Igloolik. They were out of power and sinking due to stormy weather. One men was also in critical condition.
When the Herc located the boat 3 SAR techs were dropped into the frigid waters. By then, the boat has already sunk and the 2 men were in a raft. It was also getting dark and the Herc was getting low on fuel. In these conditions, to see if there is anyone in the raft the Herc must fly as low as 150 feet above water. This is clearly not an easy task, especially when the ramp in the back is open.
The five men then waited 5 hours for a Cormorant helicopter from CFB Gander in Newfoundland to pick them up. Unfortunately one died before the chopper arrived, but how he died has not been released. The two other rescue technicians and the two men rescued from the boat were taken to Igloolik.
Here is a link to an interview with the survivors of this incredible mission
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/inuit-hunter-weeps-recalling-tragic-rescue-from-icy-waters-132930668.html
And a couple of pictures from flying up north
It all begun on Thursday morning, the 27th of October. The Winnipeg search and rescue was already up north and required assistance from Trenton. So they sent out another Herc on a 5 hour flight to Iqaluit, Nunavut to help locate and rescue 2 men stranded on a small fishing boat near Igloolik. They were out of power and sinking due to stormy weather. One men was also in critical condition.
When the Herc located the boat 3 SAR techs were dropped into the frigid waters. By then, the boat has already sunk and the 2 men were in a raft. It was also getting dark and the Herc was getting low on fuel. In these conditions, to see if there is anyone in the raft the Herc must fly as low as 150 feet above water. This is clearly not an easy task, especially when the ramp in the back is open.
The five men then waited 5 hours for a Cormorant helicopter from CFB Gander in Newfoundland to pick them up. Unfortunately one died before the chopper arrived, but how he died has not been released. The two other rescue technicians and the two men rescued from the boat were taken to Igloolik.
Here is a link to an interview with the survivors of this incredible mission
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/inuit-hunter-weeps-recalling-tragic-rescue-from-icy-waters-132930668.html
And a couple of pictures from flying up north
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