CG Helicopter Winch Action

prv said:
Cool! I know they occasionally call people and ask if they'd mind being practised on; I've always hoped they'd call me one day. Didn't realise they'd do it by request :)

Pete
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The way it was explained to me during a tour of Solent Coastgaurd opps room was, "If you see them call them up on 67 and ask if they want to practise a hi line rescue. If they are on task they will make it very clear to you!"
 
marklucas said:
From the piccies, I would strongly suggest that anyone pulling in the line for a hi-line wears gloves
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Yep!

One time on Stavros, we had to have the Assistant Cook winched off to hospital with a serious eye problem (not due to injury, it just happened spontaneously). The bosun and second officer were handling the hi-line together, and I saw the bosun's gloves afterwards. Very nearly cut right through from that one lift, and they were quite heavy leather.

I carry a pair of rigger's gloves in the emergency locker, for this and for firing flares.

Pete
 
One thing to be very aware of is Static discharge.....the Sea King is particular bad for this especially if it has been airborne for a long time....if you get the chance let the weighted bag on the end of the high-line hit the deck first or touch the sea, if not you will be the first point of contact and the shock can give yo a bit of a kick. I remember a few years back whilst on exercise with the Troon lifeboat and Navy 177 from Prestwick one of my crew got a real bad zap when he caught the winch wire prior to it being earthed!!

Remember the hi-line is only to guide the crewman down, never pull on it too hard as that can cause the weak link to break, also as said previously a good idea is to have someone flake the line into a bucket as it is hauled in, not easy though as the down draft from the rotors has to be experienced to believe!!

Also noise is a huge problem so make sure everyone is fully briefed before the helicopter is overhead as after that communication will be impossible.

Finally at least for the Sea King they normally require a wind of Red 30, 30 degrees off to port for you and me.....that said the crew will advise you what course they need you to steer so once done just make sure you have enough sea room to continue on that course for as long as the transfer may take.
 
As Starboard says, take care of static discharge. However, don't be too alarmed if the hi-line gets dumped into the cockpit without hitting the water first - the line is lightish synthetic (not sure if it's poly-something or nylon) but it doesn't conduct. However very often the hi-line will get dipped to control the swing and gauge how high it is above the surface. The winchman has a "zap lead" hanging to just below his feet. This is an earth lead which he should dip in the water before coming aboard. Touch that and you might get a bang.

The winch man will tell you what he wants (by sign language) - watch him for instructions.

Occasionally, if once the casualty has been recovered to the aircraft they may discard the hi-line if there is a hurry to get to hospital or a fuel stop. Haul it in take, it home, wash it, dry it and send to...... ;-)
 
WRT flaking into bucket - this only happens once the helo is off the port quarter so there is no siginficant downwash in the boat's cockpit.

The helo will only carry out an exercise in F4 or above as to hover in lower wind speeds requires some 95% of a single engine's power. Whilst they have two engines this is just simple pragmatism. The helo gets real lift from the the wind, which is why when you are on port tack some 30 degrees off the wind they will be tracking you but pointing directly into wind e.g. at 30 degrees to your track. Obviously the wind speed would be irrelevant when dealing with a real casualty.

I've carried out the exercise three times.
 
Smart blazer

And here they are playing with the little grey job P 279 (HMS Blazer) late last weekend in the Eastern Solent...
uplift-1.jpg


Robin
Pleiades of Birdham
MXWQ5
 
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