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

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

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Considerations for integrating helicopters into the flood response plan TrainingTraining EquipmentEquipment Mission TaskingMission Tasking Civilian or Military AircraftCivilian or Military Aircraft

Rescue Pilot Training Should be trained critical areas that pilots may not usually trained in: Should be trained critical areas that pilots may not usually trained in: –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

6 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: 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)

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

9 Helicopter Emergency Egress Training u 12 year study by US Navy –234 helicopter water crashes, 1,093 occupants –897 survivors, 437 egressed underwater –196 deaths, 130 missing –29 fatally injured-drowned, 37 uninjured drowned –55% of fatalities recovered drowned with no trauma –90% or personnel that survived initial impact and have received dunker training survive water crashes –Inability to hold breath probably resulted in death of the other 10%

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11 Helicopter Dunker, for those of us with limited budgets

12 Equipment u Helicopter –Aircraft t Rescue Options –Short-haul –Hoist u Crew u Rescuer u Rescue Devices

13 Helicopter Crew Equipment u Helmet u Nomex u Inflatable Flotation u HEEDS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

22 Short Haul Has to do with the distance moved – not with the length of the rope… What is a long line? Longer than 100 meters? What is a long line? Longer than 100 meters? What’s the record? 700+ foot live load What’s the record? 700+ foot live load

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

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

25 Hoist - Advantages u Able to go into rescue operation immediately upon arrival at the scene u Able to bring victims into aircraft u Can frequently be utilized without rigging/re-configuration u Able to go into rescue operation immediately upon arrival at the scene u Able to bring victims into aircraft u Can frequently be utilized without rigging/re-configuration

Hoist - Disadvantages u Weight, typically requires larger air frames u Cost, initial and on-going u Usually limited to 2 body weights u Mechanical system that may break u Weight, typically requires larger air frames u Cost, initial and on-going u Usually limited to 2 body weights u Mechanical system that may break

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

Low-to-High Risk Decision Making ExperienceExperience TrainingTraining Specialty trained rescue teamsSpecialty trained rescue teams Overall RiskOverall Risk

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

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

Supporting Helicopters during the Flood Response Air Operations Air Operations Landing Zone Management Landing Zone Management Fuel Fuel Weather Briefings Weather Briefings Crew rest Crew rest

33 Helicopter Operations during flood events u IS u ALL u ABOUT u MANAGING u RISK