Saturday, September 5, 2015

A Coast Guard helicopter crew medevaced a Frenchman aboard the cable-laying vessel Rene Descartes 80 miles west of Coos Bay, Oregon





An MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station North Bend safely hoists a Frenchman reportedly suffering from a heart attack aboard a vessel 80 miles west of Coos Bay, Oregon, Sep. 3, 2015. The 55-year-old man was transferred to emergency medical personnel who then transported him to a hospital. U.S. Coast Guard video by Air Station North Bend.




SEPTEMBER 4, 2015

WARRENTON, OREGON


A Coast Guard helicopter crew medevaced a Frenchman reportedly suffering from a heart attack aboard a vessel 80 miles west of Coos Bay, Thursday.

An MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station North Bend safely transferred the 55-year-old man to emergency medical personnel at 6:33 a.m., who transported him to Bay Area Hospital in Coos Bay.

Coast Guard 13th District command center watchstanders in Seattle received a notification from Rescue Coordination Center France personnel that a crew member on the 469-foot, French-flagged, cable-laying vessel Rene Descartes was experiencing symptoms of a heart attack.

“This case highlights our well-developed multi-national coordination capabilities,” said Cmdr. Robert Workman, response officer for Sector North Bend, who piloted the helicopter during the rescue. “Our duty to the maritime community transcends nationalities and borders as we train daily and continue to build our local and global agency partnerships.”







 
MH-65: Dolphin
 
 
Overview:

The H-65 helicopter — the Coast Guard’s most ubiquitous aircraft — is certified for operation in all-weather and night-time operations, with the exception of icing conditions. 
 
There are 100 H-65s in the inventory. The H-65 is the primary Coast Guard aircraft used aboard certified cutters during deployments. 
 
 FLIR, a heads-up display (HUD) and other avionics upgrades are being installed aboard the H-65 as part of the ongoing conversion-sustainment initiative to sustain the airframe for the foreseeable future. Furthermore, the re-designation of Airborne Use of Force (AUF) MH-65Cs reflects the installation of armament and a significantly upgraded communications package. 
 
Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron (HITRON) Jacksonville was the first operational Coast Guard unit to employ the MH-65C and has a total of 10 aircraft assigned to replace the MH-68A Stingray aircraft. 
 
The current transition to the MH-65D is designed to address obsolete component issues and is slated to be complete by summer of 2015. In FY17 the Coast Guard will introduce the MH-65E to the fleet. 
 
 Currently under development, the MH-65E will feature an all-glass cockpit with advanced navigation capabilities to meet emerging FAA requirements.