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Do we think our job is
dangerous? Sometimes, yes, the mission out to Andreas was calculated and a
good risk assessment was done, we were not afraid but in awe of how far we
were out. It is very unusual for us to be out of site of land for such a
long time, basically from the time we headed back from the Bulk Carrier we
had four hours before we saw land. We sometimes get very close to pitching
vessels, like yesterday on the fishing vessel we came within inches of
hitting the antennae with our blades, as it was our primary hoist cable
wrapped around the "a: frame of the boat and was damaged.
Yes we worry about the potential of injury and the difficulty of hoisting
to a boat as we fly out, but that doesn't take up much of our thoughts as
we have to do the job and concentrate on getting the SAR Techs safely on
and safely off and recovering our patient.
The description is as follows:
"10:30 Z - JRCCHalifax called about feasibility of heading out to 243 east
of Hibernia for a foundering rower.
10:31 - My response, "If he is in the water ....maybe other wise, no"
Sometime around 10:45 z - he is in the water and/or the boat is sinking.
We felt that now the fella needs us and the weather supports the chances
of us getting there.
10:50 - briefed crew and said "we are heading out farther than normal,
holding three fuel alternates (rigs), if the weather drops below 500' on
the rig and winds increase past 40 kts we don't go, if anyone has any
misgivings we stay, no questions. The boys and I decide to go.
10:59 - weather is improving, check all the landable rigs for fuel ( at
least two other plus a vessel (Terra Nova) and Hibernia.
11:01Z- Tasked by JRCC Halifax
11:25Z - Airborne to YYT(st John's) to drop all gear and get gas
12:55Z - off yyt for Hibernia
Off Hibernia no comms for 1.5 hrs or so...scary...when Sam Bruce (Hercules
Rescue 323) answers on company frequency, and he gives me weather that
still looks good we feel much better...
Just as we approach the vessel at 16:15Z a large tanker has him alongside,
some large doubt if the pick up will work. Pick up works, we stay until
Rommel is safe on board then at16:20 we are heading to Hibernia.
The next 2.5 Hrs was spent getting back to Hibernia. When she comes up on
radar then visual, she looks good!
2050Z - back at yyt
22:50 - back at yqx
Eight hours out of site of land in a helo
140 back rom Hibernia we decide to punch the one engine out numbers for
range for YYT. Can't make it on three or two engines...we knew that anyway
it was just to see how far off we were.
Risk assessment:
Wx improving dramatically throughout mission.
More than one rig for gas on way home.
Only way we couldn't get gas is if the deck was fouled, or bad gas. Odds
of all rigs having one of these, pretty slim.
Winds were our only other concern and they were strong, 37 to 40+ from sfc
to 3000 where we were for awhile.
We flew home at 150' and got 17 kt head wind. We planned for 37 kts.
We felt that even with the big bulk carrier getting on scene at the same
time as us, we needed to be there as they may not have been able to get
him as the sea state was 5+ and they only had nets.
I have to say though, when we turned around to go to land, it was 424 NM
away into a headwind, four hours to land from our farthest point."
Cheers
Wayne. |
