The attached photo shows Wave Ruler fuelling an RAF Sea King in a SAR operation to evacuate an injured sailor off a South Korean fish factory ship (SAPPORO) approx 300 miles South East of the Falklands. WVRU was positioned approx 80 miles off the coast to provide HIFR facilities to the Sea King that flew to the ship and winched the casualty prior to returning to Stanley hospital.Conditions were pretty bumpy in a SW 9 and high seas but all went well and he is now in Stanley.
Another role which could be lost by "privatisation"!
Photo by HMS York sent by Shaun Jones who is missing the Gallery.
I believe that it is quicker to refuel while hovering as it saves landing, switching off the helicopter engine and then chaining down, not to mention the risk assessments which need to be filled in.
I'm only guessing but is its possible that in that sea state, the deck was "out of limits", particularly for an RAF pilot who might not be very experienced in landing on ships.
RAF pilots have enough trouble with landing on solid ground, so I've heard. When they heard which ship (& Captain) it was, they probably decided to refuel in flight!
I didnt say they were, but evolutions like this require training by the military and full integration with military command, control and communications. It works, so why try to reinvent the wheel by putting in commercial management, whose only aim is to make a profit from the taxpayer?
Risk assessments are not required for landing, (or they weren't in my day), you just follow the standard operating procedure. Rotors running refuels can be carried out on deck and you get a better pumping rate, use only nylon strop lashings, so its usually quicker on deck. However each ship type has a set operating envelope for each type of helo which imposes strict limits on relative wind speed and deck movement. (Dont ask me to quote any figures!) The weather is the most likely reason for HIFR in this instance as perhaps Shaun can confirm if he's looking in.
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