El Ministerio de Transporte de China selecciona el H175 para las operaciones de búsqueda y rescate (SAR)

Atlanta, la Oficina de Rescate y Salvamento (CRS) del Ministerio de Transporte (MOT) de China está ampliando su flota de helicópteros de búsqueda y rescate de clase media con el Airbus H175, comenzando con una firma para dos aeronaves en configuración para búsqueda y rescate (SAR).

Estos nuevos H175 realizarán misiones SAR en una de las áreas de tráfico marítimo más transitadas del mundo (7 de los 10 puertos de contenedores más activos del globo se encuentran en China), así como en otras zonas importantes como el Mar de Bohai y el Mar Amarillo. Estas aguas con gran volumen de tráfico representan un entorno operativo muy exigente donde los pilotos deben estar siempre preparados para lo inesperado. La configuración SAR del H175 fue elegida por su largo alcance, resistente cabina altamente flexible, y por el sistema de aviónica Helionix, que facilita la descarga de trabajo del piloto y mejora el conocimiento de la situación espacial y estado general de la aeronave.

El MOT/CRS ha sido uno de los clientes más importantes de Airbus en China a lo largo de más de 10 años, hoy en día vuela cuatro H225 operados cuatro bases aéreas principales a lo largo de la costa de China: Shanghai, Penglai, Xiamen y Zhuhai. Esta selección de la versión H175 SAR sigue a la del Servicio de Vuelo del Gobierno (GFS) de Hong Kong, que recibió la primera configuración multiservicio, que incluye la configuración SAR, en junio de 2018.

"El H175 está demostrando su lugar como activo de confianza para las misiones de búsqueda y rescate offshore, como lo vemos hoy en China", Bruno Even, CEO de Airbus Helicopters. "Gracias a la confianza continua del MOT/CRS en Airbus, y nuestra estrecha asociación con la Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), el H175 ayudará a las tripulaciones de rescate a salvar más vidas y embarcaciones en peligro en sus costas".

El H175 está preparado para realizar una amplia gama de misiones enfocadas a los servicios públicos como búsqueda y rescate (SAR), servicios médicos de emergencia (EMS), policiales y de vigilancia, extinción de incendios así como operaciones de control de fronteras terrestres y marítimas. Se ofrece con más de 20 configuraciones de cabina, totalmente certificadas, que se pueden reconfigurar fácilmente según los requisitos de la misión. El H175 se concibió desde el principio para ofrecer los más altos niveles de seguridad en todos los modos de vuelo, así como el más alto rendimiento en el rango de helicópteros súper-medios. Comparte con el H135, H145 y H160 la suite de aviónica Helionix, que refuerza las capacidades de búsqueda y rescate de la máquina.

Hoy en día, el H175 está en funcionamiento en los Países Bajos, el Reino Unido, Dinamarca, Tailandia, Australia, México y Hong Kong, China.

Coast Guard conducts long-range medevac near St. Paul, Alaska

A Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew medevacs a man from the 147-foot fishing vessel Blue Attu north of St. Paul, Alaska, Sunday, November 18, 2018. The crew hoisted and transported a 63-year-old crew member from the Blue Attu to awaiting Guardian emergency flight services personnel in St. Paul for further care and transport to Anchorage. U.S. Coast Guard video by Air Station Kodiak.

KODIAK, Alaska — A Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew medevaced a man from a commercial fishing vessel approximately 100 miles north of St. Paul, Alaska, Sunday.

The crew hoisted and transported a 63-year-old crew member from the 147-foot Blue Attu to awaiting Guardian emergency flight services personnel in St. Paul for further care and transport to Anchorage. He was reported to be in stable condition at the time of transfer.

Coast Guard 17th District command center watchstanders received initial notification from Health Force Partners Saturday stating a crew member was displaying symptoms of a stroke. A Coast Guard duty flight surgeon was briefed, and due to the man’s symptoms, the flight surgeon recommended a medevac. 

Command center watchstanders directed an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter already in Cold Bay to transit to St. Paul. The watchtanders directed a Kodiak HC-130 Hercules aircrew to transit to St. Paul as well. A second MH-60 Jayhawk aircrew was sent from Kodiak to Cold Bay to be on stand-by. 

Once in St. Paul, the Jayhawk aircrew refueled and embarked a Coast Guard rescue swimmer, who was brought to St. Paul via the HC-130 Hercules aircraft. Coast Guard Cutter Healy was in the vicinity of the medevac area, and after the Jayhawk aircrew took off from St. Paul, they re-fueled on board the Healy again before transiting to the Blue Attu to conduct the medevac. That crew was forced to abort the medevac due to unfavorable conditions.

The Jayhawk crew on standby was able to successfully conduct the hoist Sunday afternoon.

The Coast Guard HC-130 Hercules aircrew provided safety and communications cover for the MH-60 Jayhawk aircrew as they conducted the hoist and transported the man back to St. Paul. 

“Long-range medevacs in the Bering Sea can be logistically challenging,” said Lt. Megan Peters, Air Station Kodiak operations duty officer on Sunday. “Four aircrews and three air platforms were required to complete this mission. With careful planning, teamwork and patience, we got it done.”

Weather on scene for the hoist was 3-foot seas and 10 mph winds.

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Coast Guard Station Valdez rescues 2 men near Busby Island, Prince William Sound, Alaska

MH-60 Jayhawk ©USCG (archive)

KODIAK, Alaska – A Coast Guard Station Valdez Response Boat-Medium boat crew rescued two men from the 21-foot pleasure cruiser Gaillea after it ran aground approximately six miles off Busby Island, in Prince William Sound, Alaska, Saturday morning.

A Station Valdez RB-M boat crew and several good Samaritan vessels coordinated efforts to transfer both men to awaiting emergency medical services personnel in Valdez for further care. One man was reported to have sustained injuries, and the other man was reported to be in good condition.

Sector Anchorage command center watchstanders received a mayday broadcast via VHF-FM Channel 16 from a 69-year-old man aboard the Gaillea reporting that the vessel had run aground near Busby Island and a 75-year-old man had fallen overboard. It was reported that he was able to swim to a rock on the shoreline, but was in need of further assistance.

In response to a flare shot from the Gaillea, several good Samaritan vessels responded to assist. The fishing vessel Fierce Leader crew arrived on scene, recovered the man aboard the Gaillea, and established a vessel tow with the Gaillea. Due to shoreline conditions, it was reported that they were unable to get close enough to recover the 75-year-old man on the shore.

Sector Anchorage command center watchstanders directed the launch of a Station Valdez RB-M boat crew and requested an Air Station Kodiak MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrew, forward deployed in Cordova, to respond.

The Jayhawk aircrew stood by ready to assist on scene while the good Samaritan vessel Mary J crew used a skiff to recover the man from the shoreline. The Station Valdez boat crew arrived on scene with emergency medical services personnel aboard to evaluate the 75-year-old man for further transport to Valdez for higher medical care.

The fishing vessel Fierce Leader established a tow with the Gaillea and transported it back to Valdez. There were no reported signs of pollution.

“Being able to assist and respond with immediacy is key,” said Petty Officer 3rd Class Joseph Echols, a Station Valdez machinery technician. “The coordination between the Coast Guard and the good Samaritan vessels to rescue these people is a tribute to the working relationship we’ve built within the Alaskan communities to let them know we are here to assist at a moment’s notice.”

Weather on scene was 9 mph winds, 9 miles visibility, 1-2 foot seas, and a water temperature of 55 degrees.

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