Marine Rescue Port Jackson & Middle Harbour units ran a joint exercise to assist NSW Ambulance Special Operations to practice transferring crew between the aircraft and a small vessel via wire hoist.

After establishing radio contact with the helicopter and obtaining approval from VTS, Port Jackson 30 steered a steady course up the harbour maintaining a constant speed of 5 knots. The pilot brought the helicopter into a hover just metres above the vessel’s antennae and lowered a guide line. The rescue vessel crew tended the line to guide an 80kg training mannequin gently onto the aft deck. The aircrew then hoisted the mannequin back aboard the helicopter completing the manoeuvre. After completing a few additional hover exercises, the pilot demonstrated his skills by throwing a lifering into the harbour and deftly fishing it out with a hook attached to the helicopter’s winch.
Whilst we all hope never to find ourselves in need of any kind of rescue, it’s comforting to know that there are highly skilled folks in the air and on the sea, ready to respond when disaster strikes.

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