Two weeks ago, I returned from leading a 4-man Air Force training team to Colombia to teach high angle rescue techniques to Colombian Air Force helicopter crews and para-rescue personnel. This is Part 6 of the chronicles of my adventurous trip to Colombia…
Day 9 … Snatch-and-grab
The first technique we practiced today is called a “snatch-and-grab.” Its purpose is to pick up a single survivor as quickly as possible without landing the helicopter.
The basic idea is for a helicopter crew to make an approach while lowering a para-rescue jumper (PJ) down towards the ground so the aircraft stops descending at the same time the PJ hits the ground. The PJ then runs forward to the survivor, wraps a “survival collar” around him, secures the survivor to the collar, and prepares for liftoff while the helicopter slowly hovers forward and then takes off.
Since we trained several crews I had the opportunity to take pictures from inside the helicopter and from the ground. In this case, a picture really is worth a thousand words so here’s the action in sequence:
Everybody loads up the aircraft and secures their gear
- the PJ is hooked up to the hoist and suspended outside of the helicopter
The flight engineer lowers the PJ down to the ground while the helicopter is still in motion
- Lowering the PJ down to the ground
The PJ spreads his limbs for stability as he approaches the ground
just before touchdown
Running towards the survivor and trying to keep the aircraft behind him
Quickly strapping the “survival collar” around the survivor
ready for takeoff!
Once everything is secure, the PJ gives the thumbs up and the survivor holds on for dear life
the helicopter is already moving forward as the flight engineer brings up the hoist
almost to the cabin
almost up
getting back inside the helicopter while flying away from the threat area
A job well done!
We actually flew again in the afternoon and completed some more training, but I’ll have to break this post into 2 pieces since there are so many pictures. I’ll post more tomorrow… fast rope, special purpose insertion extraction systems, etc.
What an awesome trip!
Related Posts
1. A Night in Orlando – Colombia Chronicles
2. Arriving in Bogota - Colombia Chronicles
3. SECDEF, the FARC, and Palanquero - Colombia Chronicles
4. Helicopter Academics - Colombia Chronicles
5. Urban Rescue Ops – Colombia Chronicles
6. Free Fall Skydiving – Colombia Chronicles
Great pictures to go with the article.
Thanks Rick! I had a blast taking them!