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February 5, 2010

U.S.C.G. to get bigger, faster helicopters

By Sheri McWhirter

TRAVERSE CITY -- The U.S. Coast Guard stands to get bigger, quicker and stronger in Traverse City.

Air Station Traverse City is in line to receive four used MH-60 Jayhawk helicopters under President Barack Obama's recently released budget for fiscal year 2011, pending approval from Congress.

Larger helicopters would replace the station's current HH-65 Dolphin helicopters that would be removed from service, said Cmdr. Jonathan Spaner, the station's commanding officer.

"It's an unbelievable enhancement to our capabilities, especially with the winter weather we have here," Spaner said.

Jayhawk helicopters are far larger than the Dolphins -- able to carry more than two times the weight -- and can fly faster, carry four times the number of passengers and isn't bothered by icy and snowy weather conditions around the Great Lakes.

Coast Guard crew members with the station's current helicopter fleet must stop to re-fuel before completing rescue operations in the Chicago area after flying around bad weather, an extra step needed to avoid ice buildup on the aircraft. Jayhawk helicopters carry plenty of fuel and have de-icing abilities that allow responders to fly straight to a scene, hover longer during rescue efforts and move faster to and from missions, Spaner said.

"We won't be dodging weather. We'll fly right through it," he said.

The bigger helicopters also will improve abilities to monitor the northern border along Lakes Superior and Huron and enhance cooperation with Canadian authorities, Spaner said.

The Traverse City station was equipped with Jayhawk helicopters from 1991 through 1995, before the Dolphins were put into service here.

"We've all realized you need this air frame in this Great Lakes environment," Spaner said.

Some of the station's pilots will be trained to fly Jayhawk helicopters, while others will transfer to other bases across the country and continue to pilot Dolphins.

Lt. Cmdr. Scott Jones, a Dolphin helicopter pilot in Traverse City, said he's going to graduate school soon and won't learn to fly a Jayhawk, though he'd like to do so.

"It would be exciting to experience another air frame. It has different capabilities and opportunities," Jones said. "These capabilities really pay off on a rescue mission."

Spaner said there is no time frame for Jayhawk helicopters' arrival in Traverse City, though it will be in the 2011 fiscal year, if Congress signs off on the budget.

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