Scary, On Maine's Highest Mountain

[Lawreston]

http://www.pressherald.com/news/Texas-man-needs-to-be-airlifted-off-Katahdin.html

HR

 

[ClimbnSink]

Slinging loads takes a bucket load of skill. The whole time I'd be worried about how close the pilots thumb is to the drop button. That is a long six miles.

 

[Lawreston]

An update to the story:

http://www.pressherald.com/news/Hik...covering-after-ordeal-at-Bangor-Hospital.html

HR

 

[flightmedic]

We are now in the process of training to do water rescues using that same system. I will forward those article to our chief pilot. Thanks for the articles.

 

[Lawreston]

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HR

 

[dell30rb]

Wonder if the huey pilot was a vietnam vet. From the books i've read, this stuff used to take place all the time. Biggest danger is getting the guys tangled in a tree on the way up.

 

[Threefingeredjack]

We are now in the process of training to do water rescues using that same system. I will forward those article to our chief pilot. Thanks for the articles.

Good luck. Not having the ability to winch survivors up to the cabin severely limits the applicability of this technique to specific injury classes. But it sure beats no options at all. (Gee.....too bad we don't have any organization in this country who has experience in using helicopters for water rescues.....)

 

[Threefingeredjack]

Wonder if the huey pilot was a vietnam vet. From the books i've read, this stuff used to take place all the time. Biggest danger is getting the guys tangled in a tree on the way up.

I learned in the HH3F from a CG pilot who flew SAR in Vietnam while in an exchange program with the USAF. He said the exact same thing. Entanglement while hoisting is a real nightmare, whether it is rigging on a fishing boat or trees. Sounds like this pilot had it wired.

 

[N801BH]

They longline dead bodies and seriously injured hikers/climbers off the Mountains out here on a daily basis... Been doing it for 30 years.... The cream rises to the top among heli pilots for sure...

 

[flightmedic]

Good luck. Not having the ability to winch survivors up to the cabin severely limits the applicability of this technique to specific injury classes. But it sure beats no options at all. (Gee.....too bad we don't have any organization in this country who has experience in using helicopters for water rescues.....)

Unfortunately the nearest CG helicopter is almost an hour away. The CG has actually called us to do searches for them until they get on scene. We have a very active and highly trained water rescue team and now are training with them to do long line short haul. If ever needed we will only pick people out of the water and set them down on the beach. I don't think we are in danger of putting the CG out of service.

 

[denverpilot]

I'm still chuckling at "Maine's highest mountain".

I believe we call those foothills here.