Use of helicopters in search and rescue — some possible further applications

Extract

It was of great interest to learn, from their most comprehensive paper “Helicopters in the Royal Navy“*, of the authors’ views on the SAR role, and especially of their outlines of the most beneficial features for ideal SAR aircraft (pages 472-476). This note refers to some aspects of the latter that were not mentioned, on which it would be interesting to know the opinions of the authors and of other helicopter pilots.

Some six years ago, I learned from the US Coast Guard of a system they had adopted with considerable success, to minimise the above hazards- At that time, I drew this arrangement (illustrated in the accompanying sketches) to the attention of RN and RAF officers concerned with rescue, but the idea received little support, for which there may be two reasons.

The American aircraft had, I believe, winch lines 200 ft long, whereas that on the Wessex was only 106 ft long. The Sea King (winch line 245 ft) had not then become operational. For their ideal SAR aircraft, the authors propose one 300 ft long. Thus, on the Wessex, the risk of fouling an obstruction would have been approximately doubled. As the longer lines now available and being proposed would go far to minimise this risk, perhaps the US system may in future be considered more favourably.