Mission was carried out by the crew of the 1º/8th GAV – Falcão Squadron, on Monday (08/08)
1º/8º GAV – Agência Força Aérea
The First Squadron of the Eighth Aviation Group (1/8th GAV) – Falcon Squadron, based at Natal Air Base, in Parnamirim (RN), rescued, on Monday (08/08), a Philippine crew member with suspected appendicitis, aboard a Liberian Ship (NM BOKM TIANJIN) that was on its way from Brazil to China.
The Aerospace Operations Command (COMAE), the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) organization responsible for coordinating air missions, activated the squadron after contact from the Air Rescue Coordination Center (SALVAERO) in Recife.
The first contact from the ship with the Search and Rescue System agencies was made on the morning of 08/08/08, when the vessel was sailing about 50 nautical miles (93 km) northeast of Fortaleza (CE), approximately 237 nautical miles (438 km) from the city of Natal (RN). The H-36 Caracal aircraft took off from Parnamirim (RN) at 8:40 a.m. and flew to the ship’s position to perform the rescue.
The helicopter kept hovering while the SAR (Search and Rescue) rescue men descended to the deck, immobilized the ship’s crew member and hoisted him up with the use of a rescue triangle. Afterwards, the Falcon Squadron transported the patient to Fortaleza International Airport, who was then transferred by ambulance to a hospital in the state capital of Ceará, where he received specialized medical care.
The whole operation took three hours of flight time and the crew was formed by ten military personnel, being three pilots, two equipment operators, three rescue men, a doctor and a nurse.
According to the Aircraft Commander, Captain Andrey Araújo Moulin, the wind at the rescue site was strong, above 20kt (approximately 40 km/h). For this reason it was necessary to coordinate with the Commander of the ship a displacement of the vessel downwind to facilitate the maneuver of hoisting the victim. “The collaboration of the ship’s crew and the synergy between the FAB military were fundamental for the speed of the rescue,” added Captain Moulin.
Aspirant Bruno Gomes Fonseca de Sá, a doctor who participated in the mission, pointed out that the patient presented a condition suggestive of appendicitis with the need for an emergency surgical approach. “During the flight, proper analgesia and control of the victim’s vital signs was performed in order to safely take him to specialized medical care in Fortaleza,” he pointed out. The First Squadron of the Eighth Aviation Group (1º/8th GAV) – Falcão Squadron, based at Natal Air Base, in Parnamirim (RN), rescued, on Monday (08/08), a Philippine crew member with suspected appendicitis, aboard a Liberian Ship (NM BOKM TIANJIN) that was on its way from Brazil to China.
The Aerospace Operations Command (COMAE), the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) organization responsible for coordinating air missions, activated the squadron after contact from the Air Rescue Coordination Center (SALVAERO) in Recife.
The first contact from the ship with the Search and Rescue System agencies was made on the morning of 08/08/08, when the vessel was sailing about 50 nautical miles (93 km) northeast of Fortaleza (CE), approximately 237 nautical miles (438 km) from the city of Natal (RN). The H-36 Caracal aircraft took off from Parnamirim (RN) at 8:40 a.m. and flew to the ship’s position to perform the rescue.
The helicopter kept hovering while the SAR (Search and Rescue) rescue men descended to the deck, immobilized the ship’s crew member and hoisted him up with the use of a rescue triangle. Afterwards, the Falcon Squadron transported the patient to Fortaleza International Airport, who was then transferred by ambulance to a hospital in the state capital of Ceará, where he received specialized medical care.
The whole operation took three hours of flight time and the crew was formed by ten military personnel, being three pilots, two equipment operators, three rescue men, a doctor and a nurse.
According to the Aircraft Commander, Captain Andrey Araújo Moulin, the wind at the rescue site was strong, above 20kt (approximately 40 km/h). For this reason it was necessary to coordinate with the Commander of the ship a displacement of the vessel downwind to facilitate the maneuver of hoisting the victim. “The collaboration of the ship’s crew and the synergy between the FAB military were fundamental for the speed of the rescue,” added Captain Moulin.
Aspirant Bruno Gomes Fonseca de Sá, the physician who participated in the mission, pointed out that the patient presented a condition suggestive of appendicitis with the need for an urgent surgical approach. “During the flight, proper analgesia and control of the victim’s vital signs were performed in order to safely take him to specialized medical care in Fortaleza,” he pointed out.
*** Translated by the DEFCONPress Team ***