PILOTS AND TFO
The helicopters are crewed by a deputy pilot and deputy tactical flight officer (TFO). The unit is allocated four pilots total: three helicopter pilots and one fixed-wing pilot. All the helicopter pilots are commercial rated and need to be comfortable with hot and high conditions, as mountain work is a big part of the job. Also, confined area landings and external load work are routine during rescues and for insertion of anti-drug personnel, so the pilots practice these landings as often as possible.
The TFO’s job is as varied as the terrain. He takes responsibility for controlling ground tactical situations from the air. He operates the radios and communicates with ground command deputies. He controls the helicopter mission equipment, such as the SX-16 spotlight and FLIR thermal camera, and helps set up a perimeter. He will then
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become the aerial support commander to give the deputies the support they need. It is not unusual to land the helicopter in remote areas so the TFO can back up and assist ground deputies.
In rescue situations, the TFO becomes the airborne rescue specialist. Because the MD 500 series is not hoist equipped, the TFO might be required to step out on the skid during a water or river rescue short haul and pick up the victim. The TFO might pull a victim into the back cabin. For this, the aircraft might be required to land first and remove the rear doors. On a cliff rescue, the aircraft might need to do a one- skid landing that allows the victim to climb aboard with the TFO helping them. During either water or cliff rescues, the flight crew might need to long-line a victim out. Other situations might have flight crews deploying
search and rescue personnel through one- skid or toe-in operations. During rescue operations, they may do long-line rescues using a 75-foot line attached to the belly of the MD 500. The TFO is hooked to the line and the pilot flies the TFO to the victim. The TFO hooks the victim into the harness or to a stokes litter, and the pilot brings them to a landing zone.
Another rescue method is a type of long- line rescue using a cinch collar to rescue victims in the water. The TFO, standing on the skid of the hovering helicopter, lowers the life preserver (cinch collar) to the victim, who is lifted out of the water and flown to shore.
The TFO occasionally needs to exit the helicopter after landing, for law enforcement activity or to talk to a ground party. Since
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