Rescue video, Alaska grounding

[rbgarr]

http://www.tradeonlytoday.com/index.php/home/496994-video-rescue-drama-off-alaska.html

[JimD]

It looked cold.

[BrianW]

Nice job by all the crews. Fairly straightforward hoist, since they were on land. When the pilots have such good visual reference (they can't see straight down, but had lot's of visual cues with the island) the Flight Mechanic doesn't have to devote so much attention to conning the helo to maintain proper position. They can concentrate more on the hoisting.

Note the Flight Mech was using the remote pendant in his right hand to run the hoist. Also it shows just how the cable can swing and hit the flight mech in the head, or pinch him/her against the airframe.

I suspect part of the reason to not hoist directly from the vessel stems from the M/V Selendang Ayu attempted rescue where the helicopter crashed after a wave breaking on the ship caused both engines to flame out.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selendang_Ayu

[R.I.Singer30]

Another 4 thanks and a hat's off to the C.G.

[Hollingsworth]

Helluva way to earn a paycheck

[outofthenorm]

Just out of curiosity - does anyone know how long a helicopter that size can hover on station for a rescue like this?

- Norm

[Tom Robb]

My impression is that modern helos can hover until they run out of fuel.
Some expert will let us know no doubt.

[rbgarr]

It must take incredible concentration and feel to hold a helo in place in those conditions. Hats off.

[BrianW]

That helo can hold up to 6200lbs of Jet A, if I recall correctly, it's been 4 years. They burn about 1200lbs per hour in a hover.

[rbgarr]

Twenty pounds (three gallons) per minute? That doesn't seem like very much to me but I'm woefully ill informed.

[BrianW]

Twin GE T700-401C turboshafts. I believe the civilian designation is CT7 or something like that. They use them in some sort of commuter turboprop too.

Rated around 1600shp each, up towards 1900shp in contingency mode. Basically the computer raises the TGT limiting and the fuel control adds more go juice.