Coast Guard assists ASTs to locate overdue hiker on Inian Island, Alaska

MH-60 Jayhawk (helicopter shot from Kodiak) ©USCG (archive)

KODIAK- A Coast Guard Air Station Sitka MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrew located an overdue, 21-year-old female hiker on Inian Island, Alaska, Tuesday. 

The Jayhawk aircrew safely located the woman at approximately 11:43 p.m. and transported her to Sitka for further care. She was reported to be mildly hypothermic and disoriented, but otherwise in good condition. 

Sector Juneau Command Center watchstanders received an agency assist request from the Alaska State Troopers to search for the missing female hiker. She was reported to have been last seen wearing hiking boots, gray sweatpants and a sweatshirt. She departed her cabin located in Hobbit Hole for a thirty minute to one-hour hike with no means of communication. AST’s began a ground search Tuesday at approximately 10:00 a.m.. District 17 Command Center granted the Sector Juneau request and launched an Air Station Sitka MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew to search with forward-looking infrared radar technology to conduct an extended shoreline search.

"This case had a great outcome and it serves as a recurring reminder how easy it is for people to get disoriented in Southeast Alaska's rugged environment,” said Lt. Cmdr. Jason Condon, an Air Station Sitka Aircraft Commander on the case. “Even a thirty minute hike can turn into an eight hour ordeal. When we venture outside in Southeast Alaska, we should be prepared for the elements, be informed about our surroundings, and have a way to communicate if something unexpected happens."

Weather on scene was clear with no wind in the area, and an air temperature ranging from 37 to 44 degrees.

-USCG-

Coast Guard medevac near Santa Barbara Island

MH-65 Dolphin, ©USCG (archive)

Photos by Petty Officer 3rd Class DaVonte Marrow

CA, UNITED STATES

The Coast Guard medevaced a 23-year-old woman from a diving boast in the vicinity of Santa Barbara Island, August 5, 2018. A Coast Guard Air Station San Francisco Forward Operating Base Point Mugu MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew arrived on scene, hoisted her into the helicopter and transported to the University of Southern California Catalina Hyperbaric Chamber.

MILESTONE AVIATION AND LEONARDO AWARDED ARAMCO MEDIUM HELICOPTER RENEWAL PROGRAM INCLUDING 21 AW139

Dublin,  Ireland  –  July  16,  2018  –  Milestone  Aviation  Group  Limited  (“Milestone”), a  GECAS  company  and the global leader in  helicopter leasing,  and  Leonardo  today  announce  they  have  been  selected to  renew the  medium helicopter  fleet  of  Aramco  Overseas Company, a  subsidiary  of  Saudi Aramco  (“Aramco”)  –  a fully  integrated, global  petroleum  and  chemicals enterprise.  Leonardo  and  Milestone  have  signed a contract  for 17  Leonardo  AW139  helicopters  plus  4  options,  and  Aramco  expects  to  take  delivery  of  a total  of  21  aircraft  over  the  next  three  years,  starting  this year. 

Aramco  awarded  the  contract  to  Milestone  and  Leonardo  through  a  competitively  tendered process. Milestone’s financial  stability,  the  outstanding  capabilities  of the  modern  and  proven AW139  and  ability of both partners to  deliver  were  key  to  meeting  the  needs  of the  program.  Further,  Milestone’s  leasing solution  encompassing  the  entire  medium  fleet  presented  a compelling  solution,  enabling  the  energy company  to  invest  in  their  operations. 

Executives  from  Milestone,  Leonardo  and  Aramco  commemorate  award  of  fleet  renewal  program. 

Milestone  is  the  largest  owner  or  financier  of civil  Leonardo  helicopters  in the  world, leasing  its  first Leonardo  helicopter  in  2010.  Its  fleet  will  exceed  100  Leonardo  helicopters  following  the  completion  of this transaction.  Milestone’s  relationship  with  Aramco  began  in  2016  with  the  lease  of  three  new AW139s,  then the  energy  company’s first  helicopter  lease  transaction.   

“We appreciate  Aramco’s  trust  in  Milestone  and  are  delighted  to  enable  this significant  fleet  renewal program  with  a  uniquely  tailored  operating  lease  solution,”  said  Milestone  President &  CEO  Daniel Rosenthal. “We  credit  our  highly  productive  relationship  with Leonardo  and  their very  strong  family  of aircraft  for allowing  us  to  meet  the  complex  introduction  into  service  and  operating  requirements  of  the customer.” 

One of  the  largest  operators of  Leonardo  helicopters  in  the  Middle East,  Aramco  has been  operating  a fleet  of  14  AW139  intermediate  twin engine  helicopters since  2008  and  seven AW109  light  twins  since 2006,  mainly  to  perform  offshore  transport  missions  in  Saudi Arabia in  support  of the  oil  and  gas industry.  With  these  new  AW139s,  Aramco’s fleet  renewal program  ensures the  operator  maintains advanced technology, class  leading  performance,  reliability, safety,  versatility  and  cabin  space.  The aircraft has  outstanding  one  engine  inoperative  capabilities,  even  in hot  and  high  operating  conditions, making  it  ideally  suited for  Aramco’s  operations.  The  AW139  can  perform  a  wide  range  of  roles,  and  the 21  deliveries  to  Aramco  will include  oil  and  gas,  and  search  and  rescue  (SAR)  configurations. 

Babcock introduces two H175s to the Southern Hemisphere

Global offshore service provider Babcock International has taken delivery of two H175s at a ceremony in Darwin, Australia. Babcock’s aircraft are the first H175s to be introduced into the southern hemisphere and will be based in Dili, Timor Leste. The new aircraft will be used to transport personnel and provide search and rescue and medevac support in the Timor Sea, approximately 500 kilometres northwest of Darwin.

Both H175s were freighted to Australia on a single Antonov cargo plane to secure their quick introduction to service on 1 January 2018. The Airbus team has worked closely with Babcock to train 27 pilots and engineers in the assembly, flight and maintenance of the H175s. Babcock will employ a further 19 Timorese to support the aircraft at their base, including four local engineers who will attend training at Airbus Helicopters’ headquarters in France in early 2018. 

In making their selection of the H175, Babcock noted that the aircraft is the ‘best of type’ for their purposes, offering excellent payload and superior single-engine performance. The two new helicopters join Babcock’s existing global fleet of xx H175s and will support the company’s regional footprint as they transfer more than 9000 passengers and 30 tonnes of freight each year. 

For Airbus, Babcock’s delivery further demonstrates the success of the Airbus H175 programme in offshore operations, following the aircraft’s introduction in the North Sea, Western Africa and the Gulf of Mexico. With extremely powerful engines, up to 270 nautical miles radius of operation and the latest technology in avionics and automation, the H175 was specifically designed to be extremely safe and competitive in the oil and gas, and search and rescue sectors. 

Airbus has been a proud partner in the Australasian oil and gas market for many decades. The H175 continues this partnership and paves the way for the decades ahead.