Rescue Helicopter Transfer Procedures
If you find yourself in an unfortunate situation requiring air-sea rescue assistance, whether for medical necessity or for vessel distresses, what can you expect as a professional yachtsman? In most cases requiring rescue, you will likely be cold, wet, and scared and once the helicopter arrives on scene the noise and wind will only add to the confusion. In spite of this always remember to stay calm and try to prepare your crew, passengers, or medical evacuees for their upcoming rescue. Keep in mind these four principles when preparing for winch operations from your vessel:
- Heading: If possible you will be asked to take up a heading to put the wind approximately 30-40 degrees off your port bow. This places the helicopter into wind with the best visual references for winching.
- Sails: Prior to all yacht transfers, the crew will be instructed to lower their sails. This reduces risk from snag hazards to the helicopter, vessel, and aircrew. The vessel should maintain steerage under mechanical power if possible
- Static Discharge: As helicopters build up tremendous amounts of static energy in flight, allow the lowered line or cable to contact the vessel or the sea prior to touching it.
- Be flexible: If sea conditions and casualty state allow, the helicopter may request that you put the person to be lifted into a dinghy and stream it behind the yacht. A normal winch recovery can then be carried out using the yacht for visual hover references. If the situation goes horrible wrong, consideration should be given to recovery from a life raft or ultimately from the sea.
In some situations a normal winch recovery (using only the cable) may be accomplished; however, in most situations the:
Winching area is confined or obstructed such that there is a risk of the winched load or man striking or snagging obstructions
Vessel is too small or winching area located so that the pilot cannot maintain visual hover references
Vessel movement is hazardous to the helicopter
Winching areas are unusable for any reason (e.g. Weather conditions, damage, etc…)
In these situations a hi-line transfer will be accomplished. The hi-line transfer is nothing more than the use of a terylene rope to add stability/control to the winched load/man and to aid in visual references for the pilot. The hi-line consists of:
A length of Terylene rope, incorporating a 6” soft eye at each end (150’ Length)
Karabiner clip and lead shot bags to act as dead weight (1 Bag / 20kts of wind)
6” “Weak Link” (150lb breaking strain)
A warning flag attached to the high line advising deck personnel NOT to secure the High Line to the vessel
For night ops a Cyalume stick attached to the lower end of the line
Once on scene, and the helicopter determines a hi-line transfer is the best method to facilitate rescue, the helicopter will complete the operation in 3 phases:
- Hi-Line to Vessel
Where possible the transfer should be made aft with the wind on the vessels port bow.
The aircraft will come into a high hover clear of all obstructions and lower the hi-line.
The aircraft is then conned into position to place the hi-line on the vessel.
Once the hi-line is in control of the vessel’s crew, the aircraft moves left clear of the ship and descends to a position to allow the pilot to maintain good visual hover references.
- Transfers-In
For aircrew transfers to the vessel, the aircrew member is lowered on the cable to a safe height. The aircraft then climbs slowly to a height where it is clear of obstructions and the pilot can maintain a hover reference with the ship.
The aircraft is then conned toward the vessel, the winch is paid out as required, and the vessel crew haul the man towards the vessel.
Once on deck the man disconnects from the winch wire and the aircraft moves left so the pilot can maintain hover references
- Transfers-Out
When transferring from the vessel the winch wire is paid out from the “visual” position. The aircraft then climbs and closes in on the vessel again stopping short to allow the pilot to remain visual.
The winch is raised and the man is eased over the railings until the winch wire is plumb. Once plumb, the aircraft then moves left and down to recover the man
On completion the hi-line is recovered time and situation permitting, otherwise it is cut free.
As a yachtsman, you can help the aircrew throughout the transfer procedures by keeping the hi-line taught to prevent/minimize the swinging of the aircrewman. Keep in mind however that there should never be a direct tug of war between the deck party and the aircraft, which could result in the weak link parting. If you have any other questions feel free to contact me at 771 Naval Air Squadron, 01326 552504 and I would be happy to discuss this Further.
LT Scott Jackson
US Coast Guard Exchange Pilot to the Royal Navy