Priority 1 Air Rescue has significant Law Enforcement and SAR Short-haul training and operational experience.  

Helicopter Short-haul Rescue involves the use of a rescue line and/or belly band attached to the helicopter's center of gravity point to insert or extract rescue personnel and injured persons in an emergency situation, from a remote accident site where safe helicopter landings are not possible.  Law Enforcement agencies equipped with single engine helicopters primarily utilize this method for SAR response, Post Disaster Relief aid as well as to extract marijuana out of confined areas.  The short-haul technique has greatly expedited the evacuation of seriously injured people from remote areas to the nearest suitable landing area where awaiting medical teams can further transport the injured to a hospital.   A technical rescue that historically would have taken 12 hours can now be completed in a fraction of the time, enhancing patient comfort and survivability.

Short-haul becomes the tool of choice for single engine helicopters when incident sites are too small to land and they are close to a staging landing zone. The pilot performs a simple long-line external sling load technique, while rescue personnel need only clip into and out of the system using conventional rescue rigging equipment.

P1AR Short-haul Training:  Priority 1 Air Rescue Short-haul training follows the FAA approved training curriculum for rescue hoisting, however additional training modules are specifically provided to discuss SAR crew personal protective equipment, hand signals, communications, aircraft rigging, inspection of the short-haul equipment. 

Students are also provided opportunities to act as safety spotter providing hand signals and ensuring rescue personnel are hooked up properly on the short-haul.  Rescue specialist are also trained to hook up and ride the shorthaul cable. Students are also provided training on packaging patients in a litter for transport by short-haul.  Training culminates with SAR scenarios in remote access areas.

P1AR/Goodrich Short Haul Rescue System is a Transport Canada approved and certified integrated helicopter born rescue system.  Designed and certified for "Human External Cargo" (HEC) rescue applications, this system allows for a rescuer(s) to rappel, or to be lowered from the helicopter with a controlled descent and then capable of extraction/transportation to safety. Both the United States Federal Air Regulations and the Canadian Air Regulations require that external loads attached to an aircraft must be jettisonable for safety in the event of an emergency. This helicopter rescue system meets and exceeds the latest Transport Canada and FAA requirements for HEC "Class D" operations.

Safety Features

2000LB cargo hooks. The two stage independent release capability of the system allows for the load to be jettisoned by the pilot or designated aircrew member in the event of an aircraft emergency.

Safety Features 300 foot composite HEC line 2000lb HEC hooks Helicopter anchor harness and connections Descent device Master attachment point and swivel Storage bag Carabiners Rope guard Drone chute Helicopter installation kit

Applications 

 

A helicopter equipped with a P1AR/Goodrich Short Haul Rescue System has the capability of being an independent rescue vehicle with insertion, extraction and rappel capabilities.

This rescue platform allows agencies an alternative option to introduce helicopter rescue, special operations and enhanced capabilities at a low cost with an approved and certified system. This platform may aid agencies to establish a niche in helicopter rescues and to act as a stepping stone for the acquisition of a Goodrich hoist.  

The P1AR/Goodrich Short Haul Rescue System may also be used in conjunction to compliment helicopters presently employing the use of a hoist, acting as a back up platform in the event of an operational or maintenance induced unavailability of the hoist. The P1AR/Goodrich Short Haul may also be utilized for occasions where due to the hoist cycle economy, performance and safety issues, the system would be preferred over hoisting (e.g. swift-water rescue, rope ladders applications, operating in environments with high hazards for cable abrasion).

Short Haul Additional Information

What aircraft types can use the P1AR/Goodrich Short Haul system?   We have a system that is compatible with virtually every helicopter that is used from light, medium and large size helicopters (airframes including the H-60's, MD 500/900, Bell 206/40, 212/412, UH-1, AS-350, 5 & EC-135) for public use or commercial operators.

 

Why would you employ this system on your aircraft? An initial starter kit is available for agencies wishing to become involved with the HEC helicopter rescue by helping establish a niche to having helicopter rescue capability.  As an emergency back-up for electric / hydraulic hoist where the hoist is in-operable or the cable is damaged during a rescue. To increase hoist cycle economy and reduce cable costs.  Used as a backup when the hoist is being serviced so that the rescue capability is not lost.  It is user friendly system to introduce students beginning hoist or (HEC) training. The system is easy to practice on existing facilities like high angle rescue towers. The P1AR/Goodrich Short Haul System also utilizes equipment that many rescuers are already proficient with using and trust.  

Who is permitted to use the P1AR/Goodrich Short-Haul system?  Due to its certification by Transport Canada (FAA) STC both commercial and exempt aircraft status helicopters can use this system.