Untitled - HFI Historical Archive - Helicopter Association International
Untitled - HFI Historical Archive - Helicopter Association International
Untitled - HFI Historical Archive - Helicopter Association International
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Colombian Rescue<br />
(Comilll/cli fmm {}{lXI' 23)<br />
Rob Freemon i.t lite Chief IFR Pi/nl for Sea/alld Nelit:nfHer,\" of SI. JOhl/',f<br />
Neuiol/l1(J/olld who flew IIII' rest'//(' ",i.\'.\';o/l.\' (/esc:ri/)et/ ill (lte (I(.'COIIII)(III)';118<br />
arlie/e. His niflectiolls oil /he missioll "/'pet/I" ill lhis hox.<br />
It has always bothered me thaI I Tl!(;civcd the lion's share (of media attCll<br />
tion)whcll, in fact. it WilS a team effort by a truly internalional crew. The first night<br />
Gabriel Ospinu made as my co-pilot ill Ihe SUI>er Puma was \0 the volcano. We<br />
would not have been nCcricnce. we meshed well as a team. To illustrate: I knew the aircrafl and lOok<br />
care or the English requirements (deilling with scientists. volcanologists. etc.) He<br />
knew the terrain. and took care or the Spanish (ATC. military etc.)<br />
We shared the nying duties 50/50 right rrom day one. As Gabriel Ospinosa is<br />
still part or the Calladian <strong>Helicopter</strong> ramily in Ecuador. he should gct the recog<br />
nition he deserves. The CHC maintenance crews worked miracle. in keeping the<br />
helicopter airworlhy. Each night round us in a different Colombian tOWIl. with few<br />
spare parts. Even in the ash-laden atmosphere. the crews worked round-the-clock<br />
to keep us opemlionnl, as well, during the nying. They st:lyed on-board 10 assist<br />
the injured. :tet as loadmasters and helpers as well.<br />
Iwd been unable 10 reach the scene<br />
where 1I Piper Seneca III had crashed in<br />
bad weather. Rob and Gabriel agreed to<br />
altempt the reSClle.<br />
Ec]uipped with only 11 shovel and 11<br />
rope, the military reSClle specialists<br />
were picked up by the Super Puma at<br />
Paslo, 35 miles from the crash site.<br />
Despile the clouds and heavy Hlin<br />
showers, the crew bcgan the long climb<br />
up the mountain range. knowing that<br />
lime was critical if there were any livc,'1<br />
10 be saved. finally. when all hope of<br />
sighting the cmsh had almost been ex<br />
tinguished, due to the min lind low<br />
visibility. there it was! AI just over<br />
11.000 feet the remains of the Seneca<br />
were scallered over Ihe mountain.<br />
Rob circled. looking in vain for 11 level<br />
pot 10 land. It seemed hopeless. Just<br />
tiS he was about to helld back to PaslO<br />
they S l >OlIcd a hand waving ncar the<br />
remains or the :tircran. Local nmives<br />
had found the cr..tsh, and the survivor.<br />
and wcre able to give her food and shel<br />
ter {a small canopy tent) but no medical<br />
:lid. She was too badly injured to cilrry<br />
out Ihrough the heavy jungle :tnd steep<br />
terrain. !-Ier sittlHtion was truly critic:l!'<br />
<strong>Helicopter</strong> Rescues Woman<br />
From Inaccessible Mountainside<br />
With renewed hOI;IC. the rescue crew<br />
began pUlling knots every fOOl in the<br />
Fall 1989<br />
long rescue rope ,l\l(1 Rob brought the<br />
Pumn to :t higher hover over the site.<br />
The helicopter dipped and swayed<br />
alanningly in Ihe downwind now orf of<br />
the mountain ridge: bul Gabriel held it<br />
in position as the Colombian rescuers<br />
climbed down the rope. A sling Iype<br />
troop se:tt was passed down and im<br />
provised intOli liller for the 18 year-old<br />
girl who was the sale survivor. She w:ts<br />
pulled up into the helicopter i1l1d the<br />
make-up sling was passed down for the<br />
body of the olher occup:mt of the pl:tne<br />
as Ihe Super Puma hovered overhead.<br />
Howllrd Storae. Dc:1Il POrler and Dan<br />
Merrill, thc three C:tnHdian engineers,<br />
were able 10 pull up the survivor, one<br />
body and the Colombian rescue team<br />
through 11 greal deal of physical strength<br />
and detcnllinalion.<br />
After45 rninutesofhovcringat 11.000<br />
feet al 16.5 degrees pitch. ncar Ihe 17<br />
degree maximum. Rob tr..tllslated into<br />
forward Oight and handed the controls<br />
over to Gabriel for the short flight down<br />
to Pasto. The critically injured girL who<br />
had becn found by natives and given<br />
rood and sheller. for 12 days aner the<br />
cntsh. survived.<br />
Again. a helicopter had m:lde the dif<br />
ference between life .lIld certain death.<br />
.. -<br />
Steffanie J. Lewis, Esq.<br />
- fanner HAl General Counsel -<br />
Albert Z. Lewis, Jr., Esq.<br />
Lewis & Lewis<br />
Expanding Services to<br />
the <strong>Helicopter</strong> Industry,<br />
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•<br />
•<br />
•<br />
•<br />
•<br />
•<br />
•<br />
•<br />
•<br />
•<br />
•<br />
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merging with:<br />
THE INTERNATIONAL<br />
BUSINESS LAW<br />
FIRM PC <br />
<strong>International</strong> Trade<br />
Int. Financial Transactions<br />
E.E.C. Trade / Lobbying<br />
F.A.A. Enforcement Actions<br />
Government Conlracting<br />
EXpOl1 Licensing<br />
Aircraft Sales & L.easing<br />
Fed, Agency Representation<br />
Congressional Relations<br />
Foreign Representation<br />
Telecommunications Law<br />
High Technology Matters<br />
Joint Ventures / Subsidiaries<br />
Litigation / Defense<br />
ARLINGTON, YA.<br />
lei: 703 243-2333. fa ... ; 703 243-298 1<br />
ABA-Net; IBLF.ARl../LEWI$.LEWIS<br />
WASHINGTON, D.C.<br />
lei; 202 833-8500. fll ... : 202 293-7498<br />
NEW YORK, N.Y.<br />
tel: 212 956-6435. fu ... : 212 956-6435<br />
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM<br />
lei: 2.649.42.00. fax: 2.642.90.48<br />
PARIS, FRANCE<br />
leI: 1.45.484862, fax: 1.45.449077<br />
27 ROTOR
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