The Ups and Downs of Winching

(From Airwaves magazine - Issue 1, April 2006)

by Nick Hawes

For most of us, dangling on the end of a thin wire thirty feet in the air would be harrowing enough - but try doing it beneath a three tonne roaring helicopter and the aptly named ‘nappy-harness’ you are wearing takes on a whole new meaning.

Winch rescues and recoveries account for a high percentage of operations carried out each year by the Westpac Rescue Helicopter.

It is a specialist task, uniquely suited to the manoeuvrability of helicopters and the skills, commitment and training of the dedicated winch crew.

I know these facts because I’ve worked closely with the Air Rescue Trust preparing publicity and marketing material to help with fundraising.

I’ve read all the information, talked to the crew, watched several winch demonstrations from a safe distance and even sat inside the cockpit making helicopter sounds quietly inside my head. I’ve poured over dozens of photographs to find images that portray the drama and emotion of an airborne rescue.

Now at last I had the chance to join the team on a training exercise and learn first hand what helicopter winching was really like.

After a short flight from the base, I found myself crouching on a shingle bank beside the Waimak River, waiting for the BK 117 to return and pick me up.

Up to now it all looked familiar but what photos don’t prepare you for is the incredible downdraft generated by the 11 metre diametre rotor blades that hold the aircraft in position noisily above your head.  The turbulence created by these rotors literally bowl you over and it’s a struggle just to maintain your footing, let alone wipe the stream of dust-generated tears from your eyes while still trying to look reasonably calm.

The crewman arrived from above to attach his own harness to mine and prepare me for the lift. It was only when I felt myself bracing for the expected jolt on the wire that I realised we were already several feet off the ground. Obviously the hours of ‘patient practice’ that I had undergone over the weekend - laying limply on the couch in front of the television - had paid off and within moments I was sitting safely inside the aircraft.

It’s testimony to the skill of the crew that during the whole winching operation, I felt safer in their hands than I did driving out to the base in the first place.

That’s hardly surprising really when you consider the hours of specialised training that every member of the winch crew undertakes.

Here in Christchurch, the nine rescue paramedics on the team are fully trained in operating the two main types of winching apparatus - nappy harness or stretcher. Of those nine, five are further trained in specialised off-shore and high altitude alpine rescues (over 5,000 ft). Five are also trained as winch operators allowing for at least one to be available during every rostered shift.
Winch rescues are most often carried out over terrain that is difficult to access from the ground. While this situation suits helicopters, access is no less difficult for the winch crew who are often lowered into confined areas, between trees or down cliff faces.

While the pilot retains overall command of the helicopter, the crewman operating the winch becomes the pilot’s ‘eyes and ears’, guiding him into a safe, workable position. He carefully watches for obstacles and monitors the proximity of the rotor blades and the tail rotors to any nearby hazards.

The Westpac Rescue Helicopter’s Breeze Winch carries 240ft of useable cable, but on average most winches are carried out over a height of between 30 - 40 ft.

Static winch operations from a fixed position are difficult enough, but off-shore boat winching brings another unique set of challenges. In these situations the patient is lifted from the deck of a moving vessel, pitching and tossing with sea conditions. Because of this, the helicopter is unable to hover directly above the vessel in case the aircraft or the winching lines come into contact with masts or aerials.

Instead, the helicopter sits off to one side of the vessel connected via an anchored “high line”. When the patient is set to be lifted, the helicopter moves quickly into position to begin the lift before moving away from the boat and continuing to bring the patient on board.

Due to the distances involved, off-shore operations must be carefully executed to ensure fuel capacity is not exceeded. For this reason, it is important to pinpoint the exact location of the vessel as early as possible. Valuable time can be wasted flying around searching for the right position !

Whatever the circumstances, a helicopter winch rescue is a delicate operation requiring precision timing and pinpoint accuracy. In all aspects, the safety of everyone involved is of paramount importance and constantly reinforced. The specialised training of pilots and winch crews for this type of work is a continuous process through regular training modules such as the one I was fortunate enough to have attended.

It is a fact of life that as leisure pursuits and outdoor activities continue to push people further into extreme areas that are harder to reach by ground transport, helicopter winch rescue will continue to grow as the only viable means of extraction, when accidents occur.

It’s comforting to know then, as you begin your ascent towards the big red and yellow machine hovering above your head, that your life couldn’t be in safer hands.

 Nick Hawes is Managing Director of Yellow Pencil Brand Sharpening, a Christchurch based company responsible for much of the brand development, design and marketing work undertaken by the Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue Trust.
Yellow Pencil have donated their services to the Trust since 2003.