# Rescue helicopter has crashed **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 4, 2005, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rescue-helicopter-has-crashed/320120 "2005-09-04T23:50:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Mama\_Tiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Mama\_Tiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Tiger)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2005, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rescue-helicopter-has-crashed/320120/21 "2005-09-05T14:55:36Z")
Without trying to get into an argument, getting the oil infrastructure up and running is important not only to the whole country, but vital to the whole South Louisiana economy. It’s a dual mission along with the rescue work, and I for one believe it needs to be done. The Coast Guard are equipped to make helicopter rescues; few private choppers are. Plus there’s a huge amount of oil leaking from not only all the cars and tanks and heaven knows what else in New Orleans, but I saw a report at [www.nola.com](http://www.nola.com) that there’s two inches of oil floating on the water in parts of St. Bernard Parish due to leaks in the Meraux refinery. So stopping leaks like that is vital to not only the health and safety of people, but of the whole South Louisiana ecology. There’s more involved here than just saving people by plucking them off roofs. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2005, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rescue-helicopter-has-crashed/320120/22 "2005-09-05T14:57:39Z")
> [@cabdude](#): > > \*\*Johnny L.A. \*\* 😕 you did answer my question - the rolly-eyes was for the journalist of a major newspaper making a factual error - once again. Sorry mate. I thought the :rolleyes: was directed at me. Sorry. I’m grumpy before coffee. (And this bloody toothache isn’t helping either.) ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2005, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rescue-helicopter-has-crashed/320120/23 "2005-09-05T14:59:44Z")
> [@Mama Tiger](#): > > Without trying to get into an argument, getting the oil infrastructure up and running is important not only to the whole country, but vital to the whole South Louisiana economy. It’s a dual mission along with the rescue work, and I for one believe it needs to be done. > > The Coast Guard are equipped to make helicopter rescues; few private choppers are. > > Plus there’s a huge amount of oil leaking from not only all the cars and tanks and heaven knows what else in New Orleans, but I saw a report at [www.nola.com](http://www.nola.com) that there’s two inches of oil floating on the water in parts of St. Bernard Parish due to leaks in the Meraux refinery. So stopping leaks like that is vital to not only the health and safety of people, but of the whole South Louisiana ecology. > > There’s more involved here than just saving people by plucking them off roofs. Point taken. There’s more of a visceral reaction to the refugees on buses and thousands of dead bodies out there (according to the latest) but you’re right. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Tiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Mama\_Tiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Tiger)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2005, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rescue-helicopter-has-crashed/320120/24 "2005-09-05T15:02:21Z")
Oh, trust me, Kythereia, I totally understand how you feel. But there are zillions of oil company choppers all over South Louisiana, and frankly, having a bunch of civilian choppers getting in the way of the military folks right now might actually slow down rescue efforts. Much of the current rescue work is taking place by boat, too. Getting infrastructure back up and running is obviously secondary to saving lives, but if doing it can help save lives indirectly, it’s hard to argue with it. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2005, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rescue-helicopter-has-crashed/320120/25 "2005-09-05T16:50:42Z")
> [@Bookkeeper](#): > > A news report says the official word is that it was a civilian copter not involved in the evacuation efforts. Wonder what it was doing there? [CNN](http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/09/04/katrina.impact/index.html), 1:17 this morning: > [@](#): > > It was believed that the helicopter was a civilian craft that had been participating in rescue operations. ---
**Author:** ![Scruloose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@Scruloose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scruloose)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2005, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rescue-helicopter-has-crashed/320120/26 "2005-09-05T16:54:07Z")
> [@Johnny L.A.](#): > > [There are](http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=%22gulf+of+mexico%22+%22offshore+oil+rig%22&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8). > > Coast Guard helicopters are orange and white with a black nose. I would say that they _all_ have large white areas, but my memory fails me. In any case, I saw no USCG markings on the Puma. > > I’ve never heard of the USCG hiring private helicopters. I can think of reasons not to, though. Pilots not only keep track of their flying hours, but also hours ‘in type’. Different aircraft have different flying qualities. The USCG uses SH-60 Sea Hawks and HH-65 Dolphins. They _might_ have a Sea King or two around, but I doubt it. USCG pilots train extensively on USCG helicopters. They know the systems intimately. It would be somewhat dangerous to put an aircrew into an unfamiliar type like the Puma. CG Dolphins are all orange with white and black trim. Originally, they were white. The Jayhawk (CG calls the H-60 a Jayhawk, not Seahawk. Although Seahawk is a much cooler name) is mostly white with orange and black trim. Those two airframes replaced the H52 and 3F Pelican. In addition there are the armed [MH-68 Stingrays](http://www.bluejacket.com/uscg/images/cg_mh-68a_stingray.jpg) , which are marked much like a Jayhawk. As those are based out of Jacksonville, they may be in the area assisting, however I don’t know of their hoisting capabilities. I doubt the CG would be contracting out other helos. HLS or FEMA maybe. Given the magnitude of the situation, that wouldn’t surprise me. > [@](#): > > Speaking of the Dolphin though… > > The HH-65 Dolphin is made my Aerospatiale as the ‘Dauphine’. (I mentioned that earlier.) Are there any other U.S. Military aircraft that are bought from foreign countries? (The Harrier is a 1960s British design, but it’s made here by McDonald Douglas.) The CG is currently in the process of acquiring the [EADS CASA CN 235-300M](http://www.uscg.mil/deepwater/system/mpa.htm) as an eventual replacement of the HC-130. I _think_ this aircraft has some roots in Europe, though I’m not 100% sure. In addition, I belive I heard recently that the replacement for Marine One will be an international effort as well. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2005, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rescue-helicopter-has-crashed/320120/27 "2005-09-05T17:04:00Z")
> [@Scruloose](#): > > The Jayhawk (CG calls the H-60 a Jayhawk, not Seahawk. Thank you for the correction. I’d forgotten that the Jay Hawk was the USCG version. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2005, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rescue-helicopter-has-crashed/320120/28 "2005-09-05T19:21:41Z")
I’m going to be saying “Super Puma” all the time now. ---
**Author:** ![Bookkeeper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bookkeeper/32/281_2.png) [@Bookkeeper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bookkeeper)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2005, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rescue-helicopter-has-crashed/320120/29 "2005-09-05T20:00:27Z")
> [@Johnny L.A.](#): > > Speaking of the Dolphin though… > > The HH-65 Dolphin is made my Aerospatiale as the ‘Dauphine’. (I mentioned that earlier.) Are there any other U.S. Military aircraft that are bought from foreign countries? (The Harrier is a 1960s British design, but it’s made here by McDonald Douglas.) The Shorts Skyvan (as the C-23 Sherpa), the Alenia G222 (as the C-27 Spartan), the BAe Hawk (as the navalized T-45 Goshawk although I think this is manufactured in the US). No major aircraft are foreign-sourced, and foreign designs are limited to minor use (the first two A/C above were acquired mainly for transporting parts and supplies around bases in Europe). The US has a major NIH (Not Invented Here) bias on military equipment, although, to be fair, this is probably a reasonable way of making sure that you aren’t cut off from your sources in case of war, which was very much a concern during the Cold War. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2005, 8:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rescue-helicopter-has-crashed/320120/30 "2005-09-06T08:28:38Z")
I heard a very short TV report that said that it was a civilian helicopter searching for stranded pets. The helicoptor landed and one of the tires sank in mud, tipping it over enough for the rotors to hit the ground. No one was injured. I couldn’t find an online cite though. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2005, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rescue-helicopter-has-crashed/320120/31 "2005-09-07T01:00:41Z")
> [@Scruloose](#): > > (answering **Johnny LA** ’s Q. about non-US aircraft procurement) > The CG is currently in the process of acquiring the [EADS CASA CN 235-300M](http://www.uscg.mil/deepwater/system/mpa.htm) as an eventual replacement of the HC-130. I _think_ this aircraft has some roots in Europe, though I’m not 100% sure. In addition, I belive I heard recently that the replacement for Marine One will be an international effort as well. CASA is the major Spanish aviation company. One of their models competed vs. the British Hawk for the Navy jet trainer bid. The new Marine One will be a Lockheed-customized Agusta-Westland EH101, designated the VH-71 for the USD military. The USCG itself for a long time has used a French Dassault Falcon business jet, made by a US susbsidiary of Dassault and outfitted by Grumman, as a recon aircraft (HU-25). The Stingrays are a derivative of the Italian Agusta A109. The Army (who are not major operators of large FW assets but they do have some) is selecting the new aircraft for what’s called the “Aerial Common Sensor” (a battlefield C3 system) and for a while they had picked the Brazilian Embraer Regional Jet (RJ145), to be outfitted by Lockheed, but now are reconsidering the specs. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rescue-helicopter-has-crashed/320120.md?page=1)