Helicopter SAR Ken Larsen TX-TF1 Search & HSART Mgr

Introduction Texas Aviation and Water Response Overview Command and Control Texas Task Force 1, HSART Program TxMF State SAR Mission USCG SAR Mission 2

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Air Coordination Group FEMA JFO Operations Branch Texas SOC Air Operations Branch Director USCG State Aviation Assets TSA Aviation Coordination Group Dep. Air Operations Branch Director (Camp Mabry) FAA US Customs and Border Protection National Guard DoD Federal Assets CAP DPSParks & Wildlife TexDOTTX-TF1 TX-FS IC RVG County Judge DDC TF-CDR Evergreen Helicopters Carter Aviatio n FEMA LNO

Joint Air-Ground Coordination Team Air Operations Branch (TEEX/TFS/TxMF) Tactical Air Supervisor TxMF/TFS Air Support Supervisor TFS/TEEX ESF-9 Liaison (TEEX) DoD, AFRCC, NorthCom TxMF Air Liaison Officer Contract Helicopter Air Liaison Officer(s) DoD Air Liaison Officer (s) U.S. Coast Guard Air Liaison Officer U.S. Customs & Border Patrol Air Liaison Officer CAP Air Liaison Officer TPWD Air Liaison Officer DPS Air Liaison Officer Mission Validator (TFS/TEEX) Medical Liaison (TEEX) Resource/Mission Tracking (TFS/TEEX) Communications (TFS/TEEX)

6 Active SAR/Sling Load Ops SFC up to and including 150’ VFR Flight Rules (See & Avoid) Rotor Wing Egress Egress Altitude: 400’ – 500’ Fixed/Rotor Wing Refueling Ops 2000’ up to but not including 4000’ Fixed Wing (High Speed) Imagery 4000’ up to but not including 5000’ Predator Operations 14000’ up to but not including 16,000’ Fighter Operations 16,000’up to but not including 18,000 Rotor Wing Ingress Ingress Altitude: 200’ – 300’ NON-SAR Aircraft (VIP, Media, Slow Speed Imagery) 1000’ -1500’ (500’ separation)

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HSART Activation Single Resource Contacted directly Contacted by Communicator Follow Chain of Command notification procedures for participating agency HSART will be a priority in most cases to fill immediately. 8

HSART Mobilization Directly to Airfield – Evolving flood event – Other No notice event – Flood event with prior approval from Task Force Command Gateway Facility, College Station – All other pre-deployment situations 9

HSART ESF-9 Reporting Structure  ESF- 9 Chief  Operations Chief  SAR Branch Director  Air Group Supervisor  Helicopter Search and Rescue Manager  HSART 10

Helicopters In Flood Operations Casey Ping, Division Commander Special Operations/STAR Flight Austin-Travis County EMS

12 Why use Helicopters Mobility Speed Accessibility to the victims Ability function independently

Considerations for helicopters Training Equipment Mission Tasking Civilian or Military Aircraft

Rescue Pilot Training Should be trained in critical areas Recon & surveillance Cockpit Resource Management (CRM/ADM) Over water – Flight – Hover Night flying Confined area techniques External loads Vertical vs. horizontal flight reference Aircraft Over Water Emergencies

15 Rescue Crew Chief/Spotter Training Should be trained critical areas that normal crew may not usually trained in:Should be trained critical areas that normal crew may not usually trained in: Crew Chief Commands Rescue Decision Making Rescue Emergency Procedures Water Rescue Operations (Crew Chief must be trained for environment flood/swiftwater) Aircraft rigging External loads Over water – Flight – Hover Aircraft Over Water Emergencies Cockpit Resource Management (CRM/ADM)

Helicopter Rescuer Training Should be trained critical areas that normal water rescuers may not usually trained in: Helicopter Safety Helicopter Rescue Decision Making Helicopter Rescue Emergency Procedures Helicopter Water Rescue Operations (must be trained for environment, deep flood/swiftwater) Aircraft Over Water Emergencies Cockpit Resource Management (CRM/ADM)

17 Over Water Aircraft Emergencies Can occur and it is recommended that all aviation crew members/rescuers receive annual training (dunker, HEEDS) to remain current in water crash survival procedures

18 Helicopter Dunker

19 Equipment Helicopter – Aircraft Rescue Options – Short-haul – Hoist Crew Rescuer Rescue Devices

20 Helicopter Crew Equipment Helmet Nomex Inflatable Flotation HEEDS

21 Helicopter Rescue PPE Typical swiftwater ppe – Wet or Drysuit – Helmet – Mask, fins, snorkel – Harness, (swim able)

22 Victim Lifting Devices Victims should only be counted on to participate in their rescue under extreme circumstances Victim rescue, short-haul or hoist, should be attended by a trained and qualified rescuer whenever possible

23 Victim Devices Billy Pugh Net – Short haul or hoist able – Comes in multiple sizes – Does not secure the victims – Difficult to get into under some circumstances

24 Victim Devices LSC Rescue Basket – Short haul or hoist able – Mainly used by the Coast Guard with Large aircraft Open ocean rescues

25 Victim Devices LSC Water litter – Short haul or hoist able – Mainly used for patients with injuries in still water

26 Victim Devices Rescue Ring – Short haul or hoist able – Interior strap “cinches” when lifted – Rigid design – Limited cinching – Must go over victims head

27 Victim Devices Cinch Collar – Short haul or hoist able – Interior strap “cinches” when lifted – Soft design – Almost unlimited cinching – Must go over victims head

28 Victim Devices LSC quick stoph – Short haul or hoist able – Adjustable cinch with crouch strap cinch – Able to be placed around victim

Light weight Can be used by smaller helicopters Can put multiple victims on the same line Inexpensive Equipment is cheap and easy to find Rigging is aircraft specific Static, non-mechanical system Cargo hook or belly band Should be redundant, releasable system 29 Short Haul - Advantages

30 Short Haul - Disadvantages Usually you have to land to put rescuer on the rope – Rescue delay Cannot bring victims into aircraft – Limits range of rescue operations All three directions of flight are solely controlled by the pilot, who probably cannot see the load

31 Able to go into rescue operation immediately upon arrival Able to bring victims into aircraft Can frequently be utilized without rigging or reconfiguration Hoist - Advantages

Weight, typically requires larger air frames Cost, initial and ongoing Usually limited to two person lift Mechanical system that may break Hoist - Disadvantages

Low-to-High Risk Decision Making Historical in the rescue community ReachThrowRow Go Go Tow Tow Helo Helo

Low-to-High Risk Decision Making Experience Training Specialty trained rescue teams Overall Risk

Helicopter utilization events Search Movement of ground based rescue teams Movement of supplies/equipment Rescue operations (Short-Haul/Hoist)

36 Victim location is usually predictable Where the people and water cross paths Low water crossings Flood control channels Roof of their vehicle Roof of their house In the trees

37 Helicopter SAR Operations IS ALL ABOUT MANAGING RISK

TxMF and TX-TF1 38

Texas Military Forces Air Support – UH 60 Black Hawk, SAR and RNA – CH 47 Chinook, Equipment and PAX transport – EMAC resources 39