What it’s like under a coastguard helicopter…

[Jerbro]

It’s a little old now, and sorry for the crappy video quality, but I thought you may like to hear what it’s like being boarded at 22 knots.. a once in a lifetime experience.. I hope!

Coastguard Helicopter

Cheers,

Jeremy

 

[HopCar]

Pretty impressive. Why did they board and why not stop the boat first? There must be a story to go with the video.

 

[Comodave]

I have been under an HH60 for training . It is almost like a hurricane, about 100 mph wind roughly. Lots of spray.

 

[Jerbro]

Pretty impressive. Why did they board and why not stop the boat first? There must be a story to go with the video.

Same as comodave, it was an opportunistic training session… I saw a light on the horizon behind us approaching fast, they contacted us on the vhf and asked if they could come aboard…asked us to maintain heading and speed. Apparently you need to keep moving so the downwash doesn’t knock you about, and boats are steadier landing platforms when they are moving.

 

[psneeld]

It's easier on the helo pilot and the helo requires less power if the boat keeps moving.

22 knots is pretty fast but certainly doable for hoisting. The rotor wash would still reach the boat unless the hoist was done from much higher altitude than what I was used to. The smaller USCG helos tended to hoist from pretty close to the boat, the larger ones from higher altitudes.

With the old HH-52s (the ones with big floats that look like mini Presidential helos but with only 1 engine) , many a hoist was done to the USCG 41 foot utility boats. The helo's floats were often right up against the boat's VHF antenna and you knew you were tucked in just right when it was tapping that float.

This would be the more modern version....

 

[slowgoesit]

Never been under a Coast Guard helo, but have done helocasting from a CH-47, both as the guy jumping in the water as well as the guy flying the helo. We generally kept up a fwd airspeed of 10 to 20 kts ground speed while doing the actual drop. One lesson learned, was if dropping a liferaft, don't inflate it until the helo moves a good distance away from the helo, or you'll have some serious swimming to do to reach the raft!

 

[ronobrien]

It’s a little old now, and sorry for the crappy video quality, but I thought you may like to hear what it’s like being boarded at 22 knots.. a once in a lifetime experience.. I hope!

Coastguard Helicopter

Cheers,

Jeremy

I had to go through SOLAS training some years back. It was held in New England in February. The temp was in the teens. We had the experience of being under a CG helo at 100' AGL. It gave a new meaning to COLD!

 

[oguidry]

I am sure that all appreciated that the video above is of a UK helicopter and not a USCG one. The USCG Auxiliary here regularly practices with helo ops and they lower a basket onto the Auxiliary vessel. It is like being in a washing machine with water coming from all directions. Full foul weather gear, helmet and googles are mandatory. We know what is coming and are not stressed and it is still scary. I can't imagine what it would be like to be on a burning or sinking boat and have a helicopter close overhead.

 

[psneeld]

Most are just grateful and relieved for being hoisted but only once in the helo....but not all are grateful....

 

[Jerbro]

I am sure that all appreciated that the video above is of a UK helicopter and not a USCG one. The USCG Auxiliary here regularly practices with helo ops and they lower a basket onto the Auxiliary vessel. It is like being in a washing machine with water coming from all directions. Full foul weather gear, helmet and googles are mandatory. We know what is coming and are not stressed and it is still scary. I can't imagine what it would be like to be on a burning or sinking boat and have a helicopter close overhead.

Yes, this was in Old England as opposed to New England. This helicopter has been retired from Coastguard duties now, and the base at Portland UK has been closed. It’s now used as a training base… the marina I’m based in is next door… I’ve seen one of your V22 Osprey’s (I think) exercising there too..

 

[av8r47d]

Reminds me of a time flying Ch47’s in Iraq; We were loaded pretty heavy with 38 troops plus all their gear doing a relieve in place. I was first in a flight of 2 and a new outfit had just assumed responsibility for the LZ. They directed us in a different landing direction than usual and an enthusiastic young soldier position himself on our approach path to the LZ to “guide us in” I guess. I lost sight of him as we passed over at about 30ft agl but the crew chief reported he was in the fetal position trying to keep his clothing from being torn off his body while some loose 463L pallets were sent out across the desert like tumble weeds. Good times

 

[Jerbro]

Here’s the Osprey seen at Portland UK…
V22

 

[slowgoesit]

Reminds me of a time flying Ch47’s in Iraq; We were loaded pretty heavy with 38 troops plus all their gear doing a relieve in place. I was first in a flight of 2 and a new outfit had just assumed responsibility for the LZ. They directed us in a different landing direction than usual and an enthusiastic young soldier position himself on our approach path to the LZ to “guide us in” I guess. I lost sight of him as we passed over at about 30ft agl but the crew chief reported he was in the fetal position trying to keep his clothing from being torn off his body while some loose 463L pallets were sent out across the desert like tumble weeds. Good times

Even a UH-1H does a really fine job of knocking down a line of porta potties! Or so I've heard, from a friend . . . . . .
in a CH47D in Korea, we once rolled up a big section of PSP that wasn't properly anchored down . . . Yes, indeed, Good Times!

 

[rgano]

I was taken from a carrier after an arrested landing in a carrier onboard delivery (COD) aircraft and lowered to the deck of my ship in a horse collar by a helo - much better than being in an emergency requiring lifting out of the wawa but still most undignified. I spent a lot of time on various ship under hovering helicopters which were delivering supplies from supply ships alongside. H-53 would beat you to death, and H-46 would mess you up a bit, both stirred up a lot of saltwater mist and left you miserable. Ridding in various helos whether I was being medevacced or simply as a passenger requires some serious hearing protection.