22 North Carolina National Guard Aviators joined first responders from several local and state agencies for North Carolina Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Team training at Weldon, North Carolina, May 19 - 20, 2021.
The training at the rapids of the Roanoke River simulated swift water rescue missions.
“NC HART partners conduct training rescues over land, water, tree, and building ten times a year on average to prepare for Hurricane season,” said Army Lt. Col. Benny Collins, NCNG State Army Aviation Officer.
Before mission, NCNG Aviators and civilian aviation staff swarmed over the 64-foot-long twin engine UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter preparing it for water rescue. Seats and doors are prepped to allow for civilian first responders to be lowered by hoist.
10 CLINGMANS DOME, Tenn. – A Tennessee Army National Guard medical flight crew responded to an emergency air evacuation mission after a victim suffered a stroke while hiking in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park area, April 15.
At approximately 9 a.m., the Tennessee Military Department and Tennessee Emergency Management Agency were notified of a possible stroke victim near Clingmans Dome along the Appalachian Trail, needing immediate medical care. At 9:40 a.m., the Tennessee National Guard received the official mission request.
A UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter from the Tennessee National Guard s Detachment 1, Company C, 1-171st Aviation Regiment based in Knoxville assembled in under an hour and launched to the incident site at approximately 10:03 a.m.