Alaska Department of Public Safety boosts aviation support
Two new civilian helicopter pilots have joined the Alaska Department of Public Safety in the US, bringing both the Anchorage and Fairbanks-based advanced search and rescue teams up to full staffing, allowing for seven-days-a-week coverage
“The Alaska Department of Public Safety patrols and responds to emergencies in some of the most geographically remote areas of the country, and without aircraft and pilots to operate them, we would not be nearly as effective at carrying out our sworn duty to Alaskans,” stated Major Bernard Chastain, Deputy Director of the department’s Operations Support Bureau. “Our highly equipped helicopters and their pilots save lives, locate missing persons, and assist in apprehending dangerous criminals across the state on their near-daily missions.”
H125s perform hundreds of SAR missions annually
The Department of Public Safety owns two Airbus H125 turbine helicopters, which were purchased in 2012 and 2014, respectively. They accommodate up to six persons and are equipped with advanced imaging equipment, communications, and other specialized search and rescue equipment. They are among the most advanced non-military aircraft based in Alaska.
Combined, HELO2 (Fairbanks) and HELO3 (Anchorage) launched for nearly 300 missions in 2020 for everything from search and rescue, fish and game violation patrols, law enforcement and investigation aerial assistance requests, to requests for assistance from other public safety agencies in Alaska. Before these two new pilots joined the team, pilot staffing left multiple days each month without a pilot available to launch if needed.
The Alaska Department of Public Safety has over 43 aircraft comprised of both fixed-wing and rotary-wing assets; the department also has over 50 civilian and commissioned pilots.