Building an Effective Ship-Helo Team

1. Building an Effective Ship-Helo Team Ship-Helo Branch ~ ATC Mobile P-CO/P-XO course 2005

2. Our Instructors: • Have 147 years service, 52 years of sea time • Are LCDR helo pilots, CWO4 (Bosn), CWO2 (Eng) • Have been Cutter CO’s, XO’s, HCOs, LSOs, EOWs • Have sailed “The 7 Seas” & to all 7 Continents • Have deployed on ALPAT, JIATF east & west, OOH, Polar north & south, U.S. Navy operations. • Have visited all 43 flight deck-equipped cutters within the last two years.

3. Ship-Helo Presentation: Outline • Review Procedures • Provide Tools • Standardization Visit & Training • New Info • Discuss Mishaps • Answer Questions References: COMDTINST 3710.2D, Aviation Facilities Bulletin 1J

4. CO’s Authority • Cutter CO has the same authority given an Air Station CO to initiate flights (1.B.2) and authorize passengers (per 3710.1E) • Cutter CO does not authority to waive maintenance discrepancies, crew rest limits, etc. Contact the parent Air Station in these cases.

5. General Procedures • Mission Planning • Flight Brief • Flight Quarters • Takeoff • Mission • Landing • Shutdown

6. Mission Planning • Your Operations Officer and Senior Aviator should conduct a mission planning sessionprior to the preflight brief • Develop a plan that supports the cutter mission and one that the helo is capable of performing • All CG missions warrant quality effort – all missions do not warrant the same level of risk • Cover TOI’s, report format, airspace, other units in area, etc. For a complete list of mission planning items see SHOPS 5.A.2

7. Mission Planning • If you walk into a pre-flight brief and a mission planning session breaks out something is wrong. • Will you approve the plan at the briefing or want to see it before the pre-flight brief? • Training at end of flight?

8. Pre-Flight Brief • Who can cancel a flight? (1.B.3.b) • CO • Senior Aviator • Use pre-flight briefing sheet (SHOPs 6.A.7 Fig 6-2) • Risk assessment – remember the effect of combining limits • Risk input should come from all participants, including pilots and junior enlisted

9. Flight Quarters • CO must approve setting of flight quarters and commencing of flight ops (SHOPS 6.B.2) • CO is not required to approve each evolution – That’s the HCO’s Job (SHOPS 6.C.5) • CO monitors “big picture” and can always negate a clearance

10. Flight Quarters • SHOPs changes to FLICON 1: • LSO Phone talker: gone • Boat crew: gone (2.B.4.g) • Fire guard on start up: gone • Fire party inside ship (6.B.2.g) • Tiedown on side of hangar or superstructure if used (6.B.2.f note)

11. Flight Quarters - Comms • VHF-FM radios are standard for DOD and CG ship operations • LSO must be on bridge/helo channel so they can respond immediately to problems • Radios increase situational awareness and safety

12. Flight Quarters – Helo Start • Complete cutter readiness is not required for start & engage: • Flight deck must be manned & ready, steady course during “amber deck”. • HH-65 will normally be staged with TALON engaged, no tiedowns used

13. Takeoff • Deck status is an indication of clearance for the evolution, not whether the deck is foul. • No TALON signals used for takeoff – pilot’s responsibility • Pilot requests takeoff, LSO gives signal, pilot releases TALON, then takes off. • HCO should actively track helo with CCTV (HIFR, VERTREP), (2.C.5) • Expect a landback at any time

14. Mission • After helo departs on patrol, set FLICON 2 (gear left on station) • “It’s 11 o'clock, do you know where your helo is?” • Are you ready when the helo returns? • Helo must land with at least 20 minutes of fuel remaining

15. Mission Communications • Helo reports position every 15 minutes • Brief lost comms with a new AVDET • Helo may get better comms by: • HF: fly lower for ground wave, higher freqs during day, lower at night • VHF: fly between 500’ & 1000’ for ducting • UHF: climb to get line of sight

16. Landing • TALON: primary means to secure H65 • Missed-grid procedures must be pre-briefed. Best practice is to reposition • TALON touch and go’s authorized – helps pilots practice hitting the grid • Primary tiedowns and TALON may be used together for training • Tiedown training at 100% rotor RPM • Helo remains on deck • TALON engaged • Normal tiedown signals & procedures

17. Shutdown • TALON signal used after final landing • Amber deck during shutdown • Course changes prohibited • No one moves under rotor system!!

18. HH-65A/B Capabilities • USCG’s Short Range Recovery (SRR) Helicopter • Normal Crew of three (Pilot, Copilot, FM) • Range ~ Approx 300 nautical miles (180 for ship ops) • Cruising speed = 120 knots • Endurance = 2.5hrs (1.5hrs for Ship Ops) • Rescue Hoist Capacity up to 600lbs • VERTREP up to 2000lbs

19. HH-60J Capabilities • USCG’s Medium Range Recovery (MRR) Helicopter • Normal Crew of four (Pilot, Copilot, FM, RS) • Range ~ Approx 700 nautical miles • Cruising Speed = 140 knots • Endurance = 7 hrs • Rescue Hoist Capacity up to 600lbs • VERTREP up to 6,000lbs

20. MH-68 Capabilities • USCG’s Aviation Use of Force (AUF) Helicopter • Normal Crew of three (Pilot, Copilot, Gunner) • Range ~ Approx 200 nautical miles (150 for ship ops) • Cruising speed = 120 knots • Endurance = 2 hrs (1.5hrs for Ship Ops) • No Rescue Hoist (no HIFR or SAR) • No VERTREP • Not night qualified, NVG only

21. Capabilities • Interservice Ops • Your helo can land on Navy ships and some foreign ships • Information for U. S. Navy in Resume (handout) • Foreign information • HOSTAC

22. Capabilities - HIFR • Helicopter In-flight Refueling • Extends helo range • Helps in emergency (fixed landing gear) • If you can’t land the helo, you can HIFR it • - Use the checklist in Chapter 9Procedures: • Set FLICON IV • No pitch & roll or wind limits • Helo hoists rig, hooks up • Ship starts & stops pump when helo signals • Drop off rig – DONE!

23. Capabilities - Vertrep • Vertical Replenishment • External loads (groceries, big parts) • - Use the checklist in Chapter 10Procedures: • Set FLICON III • Wind 270-330 • Helo approaches aft of “Tee Line” • Deck crew hooks up or helo releases load • Done!

24. Operations - Lights • Overhead floodlights often adjusted too high • All lights must be on for night unaided flight ops • Specific provision for “mission urgency”: Ref SHOPs 4.C.9 • Not all lights are on for NVG ops

25. Operations: NVG • Goggles need light to work • Not for stealth! NVGs increase safety • Procedures are pretty simple: • Darken ship, turn off non-compatible lighting (no deck status/waveoff/running lights) • Turn up compatible lighting, don goggles & chem lights • Use term “NVG” in all radio calls • Maintain light discipline (pipe every 30 minutes)

26. STAN: Certification • Cutter must be certified for flight ops • Cutter certification (equipment) and cutter qualification (personnel) are not the same: Cutter may be certified to conduct flight operations, but may not have a qualified crew • Navy certifies most CG cutters with a single visit • Many times cutters do not “pass” inspection due to class wide discrepancies such as the fuel dam or missing 400hz system. CG normally waives the “requirement”

27. STAN: Certification • LEVEL certification only describes the ability of your equipment to support operations:Day or Night, and Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC) or Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC) • Level One • Day/Night IMC • (200 & ½ mile minimum) • Level Two • Day/Night VMC • (300 & 1 mile min for CG, 500 & 1 mile for other helos) • Level Three • Day VMC • Ref: SHOPs Chap 3.A

28. STAN: Certification • CLASS certification deals with the services your equipment can provide • Class 1 to 3 • You can land a helicopter • Class 4 and 5 • You can VERTREP a helicopter • Class 6 and 6R • You can HIFR a helicopter • Ref: SHOPs Chap 3.A

29. STAN: Certification • Now you're certified to conduct flight ops, meaning your equipment is available and in working order. • What happens if something breaks? • Bulletin 1J outlines what equipment is required to conduct flight operations

30. STAN: Qualification • Cutter personnel qualification issues: • LSO’s, you need one that is current: conducted ops last semi-annual period (Ref SHOPs 3.C.2 & tables) • Four tiedowns: conducted ops last semi-annual period • ADC: 10 hours of positive control last semi-annual period, otherwise they’re just a flight follower • HCO, flight follower, fuel king, fire party? • No semi-annual training requirement

31. Stan Visit • Ship-Helo Stan visit every 24 months • 3 day visit • Day One – equipment check and stan test • Day Two – static drills with helo shut down on deck (H65 will do all ops on Day 3) & training • Day Three – underway day, night (NVG), HIFR, VERTREP, hot refuel, crash on deck drill, ELVA

32. Stan Visit • Stan visit will ensure crew is using latest procedures • All equipment required for flight ops will be inspected • Also testing how well your crew can schedule & coordinate helo ops

33. Pre-Deployment: Contact with AirSta • Cutter and AirSta should be talking early and often • Has Senior Aviator worked in op area recently? Use their knowledge of airspace, procedures, etc. • Is the cutter NVG capable? • Can the AirSta provide an NVG capable crew? • How many hours will the cutter anticipate flying? This number affects pre-deployment maintenance.

34. Pre-Deployment: Contact with AirSta • Unusual port calls or vaccinations? • Hangaring & washing? • Reverse cycle ops? • Maintenance issues? • Uniform issues? • Daily routine? • Berthing issues? • Officers commensurate with rankand together • Chiefs with Chiefs • Enlisted crew together for crew rest

35. Initial In-Brief • Sample on Ship-Helo web site (handout) • Are “the players” there? • Admin issues • Helo operations • Pre-flight routine (roll out helo, brief, launch?) • Helo maintenance • When do you want to know? • Training evolutions • HIFR (wet) • VERTREP • Crash on deck drill

36. Cutter Readiness: Fuel Tests • Fuel issues • Are required tests being conducted? • Fuel test log • Daily and weekly fuel tests • All fuel tests are required weekly when no helo is on board • Lab results? • Red cans? • Quarterly to labs – list in Navy fuel pubs and on web site

37. Near-term developments • New PQS at HQ • Change 2 to SHOPs at HQ • Deadline: all vests to autoinflate by Sep ’06 • STAN CD – updated & mailed twice each year • Ship-helo newsletter – cutting edge procedures, sources of supply, techniques, news, etc.

38. HH65 status • HH65 flight restrictions message • Slated for new engines this year (2005) • In the meantime, pilot in command (PIC) is required to adhere to performance as dictated by aircraft manual. • Decision aid to assist • Wind has biggest effect on performance • If you speed up to get more wind, you might be closer to the pitch/roll limits.

39. BIG PICTURE items • “Your Cutter is an Airport”: is it ready?- Is your airport equipment in good shape?- Can your people run the airport?- Aviation Fuel is life – can you prove it’s good? • TALON is there for safety – use it. • NVGs are not for stealth, they’re for safety. • The less people on the flight deck, the better. • A tired crew will make mistakes – Ship AND Aircrew

40. Relief Briefing • If you want to determine the status of your cutter’s “airport”, review the following: • Last Stan visit report (handout) • Last AVCERT report • Last post deployment message when a helo was embarked • Fuel equipment, tests, pubs & logs • LPU30 lifevest condition & logs • Other CASREP’ed Equipment • Helo operations bill • LSO, ADC & Tiedown training log

41. Wrap Up • At the end of the day the helo: • Extends your sensor and visual capabilities • Helps get busts • Deters terrorists • Increases your SAR capabilities • Provide logistical support • Looks good on the back of a cutter

42. Wrap Up • Questions? • The Ship-Helo Branch thanks you! PLAD: COGARD ATC MOBILE AL//SHIP-HELO// Ship-Helo Global Office Phone Number: 251-441-6949 Email & newsletter articles: atcshiphelo@esunola.uscg.mil Web Site: http://www.uscg.mil/hq/atcmobil/shiphelo/