Search And Rescue
"So others may live"
for military aircraft stationed at NAS Lemoore (mostly F-18s). SAR support
is provided as a courtesy to the local parks and San Joaquin Valley area
by the Commanding Officer. Usually this covers anywhere from 100 to 150
mile radius from the base (anywhere from the coastal area near Monterey to
the Sierra Nevadas in the East. Our helos and crews often work along with
other park rescue helicopters, local sheriffs and fire departments, flying
an average of 32 actual SAR sorties per year.
To ensure that our crewman are the most efficient, safe, and professional rescue crews around, Training is priority one. Whether utilizing the "Hard Stand" (a wooden stand used for training)at the end of the NAS runway or practicing in the hills of the Coalingas or mountains of Yosemite Park or the Sierras, our flight crews train long and hard. Our crews mostly practice 5 rescue methods:
1. Landing to effect a rescue- This is the preferred method. A landing rescue is more expeditious, reduces pilot/crew fatigue, and is more simplified than other methods.
2. Rescue via one skid-When topography dictates the rescue, and landing isn't an option, landing only one skid in close proximity to the terrain or obstruction while in hover becomes an alternative method of rescue.
3. Rescue via Hoist- Terrain or foliage may prohibit landing. In this case, a hoist rescue is most advantageous. This is done by lowering the crewman by electric hoist to the ground to the victim. The crewman then attaches himself to the victim and they are both hoisted back up to the helicopter.
4. Rappelling-the most expiditious means of getting to a resuee, it's used to get a crewman to the ground when a landing isn't possible. The crewman slides down a rope, using a device called a "Sky Genie" to control the speed at which he descends. Then he continues by connecting himself to the rescuee for a "Short Haul".
5. Short Haul- This evolution is a rescue method utilized for the extraction of a rescuee on vertical or near vertical terrain. The short haul proceduure terminates at a predetermined landing zone. The "Short Haul" is used to get a victim out of an immediate threat area to a safer location.
From Left to Right - TOP: AT2 Bradford, AT1 Edwards, AMS2 Pedersen, AT2 Furlong, Lt Segerstrom, AD2 Holmes, AMH1 Huffman - BOTTOM: AE2 Frazier (me), HM3 Shelow, LCDR Schneider, AD2 Barrailler, HM2 Cavin, Lt Grint
I don't fly in the helo as a crewman, I'm a C-12 guy. I just happened to be wearing a green flight suit and they needed me to make the picture look even.
If you have any questions pertaining to our mission here at OMD/SAR drop me a line at
and feel free to direct your questions to anyone in our Division.
For more wonderful HH-1N, visit the Image Page and see a few photos of this baby in action.
If you are in the San Joaquin Valley area and would like a live demonstration for your group, click here:
