Air Force Rescue Coordination Center staff dispatches helos to stranded hikers

Tyndall AFB, Florida - Air Force Rescue Coordination Center members here worked with National Park Service officials and Death Valley National Park rangers to rescue five stranded hikers April 18 in Mosaic Canyon, Calif.

The hikers had become trapped between two cliffs and were spotted by another hiker who phoned for help.

Once park service members established the hikers were alive, they dropped blankets and supplies down to them to shelter in for the night.

"After receiving the call Saturday night, we planned for an early sortie," said Capt. Chuck Redmond, the 66th Rescue Squadron flight lead at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. "We coordinated with the park service to get the most current coordinates on the hikers' location and launched our helicopters."

After being contacted by members of the AFRCC, the 66th RQS aircrew launched two HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters and deployed to the canyon along with Air Force pararescuemen from the 58th RQS, April 18.

Shortly after the helicopters arrived at the scene, the hikers were hoisted out of the canyon and transported to a local airport where medical and park personnel were standing by.

"They seemed pretty eager to see us when we got there," Captain Redmond said. "The hikers were stuck on a high ridge line that was too narrow for us to land the choppers, so we had to tactically insert the pararescuemen onto the cliff and hoist the hikers out one at a time."

The pararescuemen conducted a quick medical check of all five hikers and determined they were good condition and able to be transported aboard the HH-60Gs.

"Anytime lives are on the line, it serves as a reminder of how important our mission is," said Maj. Ryan Mattson, the AFRCC flight commander. "The men and women of AFRCC are always on duty and ready to answer the call."

As the United States' inland search and rescue mission coordinator, AFRCC members serve as the single agency responsible for coordinating federal search and rescue activities in the 48 contiguous United States.

The rescue coordination center directly ties into the Federal Aviation Administration's alerting system and the U.S. Mission Control Center. In addition to search and rescue satellite aided tracking information, the AFRCC computer system contains resource files that list federal and state organizations officials, which can conduct or assist in search and rescue efforts throughout North America.

by Capt. Jared Scott - 601st Air Operations Center Public Affairs