Direct aerial suppression is the most
common service, and that is the primary job of STAR Flight 4, a Bell UH-1H that was recently added to the fleet as the primary fire attack helicopter.
tain their proficiency. When performing a water rescue, crewmembers will dress out in water res- cue gear. While enroute, the crew gathers more information from dispatch or from on-scene crews so that they can plan ac- cordingly. Upon locating the victim at the scene, the rescuer is lowered into the water to gain access to the victim. For a victim in lake water, a rescuer may
be deployed directly into the water to lo- cate, assess and begin medical care of the victim. If the victim is located in swift wa- ter, crews may take a slightly different ap- proach. Due to the extreme danger swift water poses, the rescuer can be moved to the victim’s location using the hoist or a “short haul” technique. The victim is se- cured and moved (with a rescuer still at- tached) to a safe location where medical care can be initiated. These rescues are typically done during flash flood events. Central Texas is home to very diverse
and beautiful outdoor recreation areas. Some are remote and rugged, such as En- chanted Rock State Park. Even Austin has rugged wilderness areas within its city limits that are popular places for hiking, rock climbing, and mountain biking. A number of individuals each year become lost or injured within these areas and need rapid extraction and medical treatment.
STAR Flight also engages in missions that might seem surprising. For example,
it provides limited support to the Austin Police Department Bomb Unit. The unit’s bomb robot can crawl into the cargo area of the Huey. That gives the bomb unit the ability to deploy their men and equipment to any area in the county as quickly as possible. Another unique mission of SF4 is to assist the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department in clearing trees and brush from greenbelt areas and preserves. A re- mote cargo hook made for grappling trees is used.
Funding for the STAR Flight program
Bomb Unit Robot
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