HSL-48 Provides Vets Day SAR Demo

The demonstration capped off the grand finale for the CSX railroad company's military appreciation day. The festivities were attended by State Representative Corrine Brown, and State Representative Ander Crenshaw, Jacksonville City Councilors, as well as Brigadier Gen. James L Hodge, deputy commanding general, U.S. Army Field Support Command. Along with the crowd of about 2,000, the various dignitaries bore witness to two different SAR scenarios utilizing the new rescue basket as well as the direct deployment technique.

The rescue basket came about after Hurricane Katrina and is now an essential tool utilized to allow SAR crews to complete a rescue without a rescue swimmer. It can also be used in an overland SAR situation. The direct deployment method was also demonstrated and is used in rough seas, allowing a swimmer to stay attached to the rescue hoist and affect a rescue quickly.

The whole evolution was carried out in downtown Jacksonville on the St. John's River between the Acosta and Main Street Bridges, with announcements provided by Aviation Warfare Systems Operator 1st Class Nate Bryant, USNR of CSX. Aircrew of Venom 500 included pilots Lt. Kevin Shikuma and Lt. John Harrington, as well as Aviation Warfare Systems Operator 1st Class Brian Trippett as the rescue hoist operator and swimmers Aviation Warfare Systems Operator 2nd Class Michael Todd and Aviation Warfare Systems Operator 2nd Class Mathew Daly. The U.S. Coast Guard facilitated the event, keeping various boating traffic out of the area.