They made people from yachts and ferries, ships and drilling platforms, searching for survivors and missing. There is no another specified unit in Poland. due to the fact that only the Gdynia Aviation Brigade of the MW performs rescue operations from the air in the Baltic. The crews of her helicopters and aircraft have been on the decision more than 800 times.
It was a Russian mill ship. His name was “Viktor Chudiakov”. The signal was about at the tallness of Gdynia. 1 of the crewmen needed help. St. chor. staff. mar. Krzysztof Bilecki, a longtime lifeguard from W-3WARM Anakonda crew, and present besides the chief of the rescue team, no longer remembers what she complained about. It's been ages since then. However, he remembers that the weather at the start had a dream – beautiful sun, calm sea. But he himself flew with his nose glued to the window, and thousands of thoughts rolled into his head. But everything went smoothly. I drove on board utilizing a rope. The sailors moved out a middle-aged woman. erstwhile she saw me, she said goodbye, but she did not panic," the officer recalls. A fewer twelve seconds later, they were both in the chopper. A bag came up after them. Craciary sum, from which marketplace squares and Central-Eastern Europe stations were swarming, only a small smaller. The chopper moved towards Gdańsk, where the victim was handed over to the medical staff of the 7th MW infirmary and the chor. staff. mar. Bilecki in his individual flight log may have recorded his first action. – Pink flamingo – smiles. A neat metaphor that comes down to the old fact – the ground is to start well...
On pink his debut in the seat of the first pilot of Anakonda could besides compose Captain Mar. Pil. Paweł Januszko. Although in his case, for a change, the bar was suspended truly high. We got a call from the victim on the yacht. I knew right distant it wouldn't be easy. due to the distance we had to overcome, but besides the specificity of the unit itself. The yacht is small, rocking heavy on the waves, and through a advanced mast it is hard to approach its deck. In order to leave the lifeguard, you gotta do quite a few work,” the officer recalls. But Captain Mar. Pil. Januszko had already had considerable experience gained in the seat of the second pilot. And a smart crew. We did it. The injured man got on board the chopper and then to the hospital.
Two airmen, 2 stories. A tiny clipping of what specialists from marine rescue from Gdynia and Darlov could share. The Gdynia Navy Air Force has been on SAR work since 1994. And the number of actions in which her crew was active just crossed another magical line.
First, waiting...
23 September Anaconda helicopter He picked up from the airport in Gdynia-Baby Dołach. He flew to the Gulf of Gdańsk, where he was operating the frigate of the ORP "Gen. T. Kościuszko". From the ship's deck, the crew undertook a sailor, whom she then transported to the hospital. The flight lasted only 36 minutes. This is what the 800th search and rescue action of Gdynia looked like Naval Air Brigade. Then there were a fewer more departures. In mid-December, the metre indicated 805. “Since 1994 our crews have helped 430 people,” stressed Captain Marcin Kołodziejski, spokesperson for the BLMW. Although statistic could most likely be conquered, due to the fact that helicopters were leaving for action even before that date. This was, for example, in January 1993, erstwhile the Mi-14PS crew sought victims of the ferry crash “Hewelius”.
Anyway, 1 thing is certain – the Gdynia brigade is the only aviation unit operating in Poland rescue actions in the Baltic. The area of its work includes territorial waters and an exclusive economical zone, i.e. aquenas, where Poland has the right to operate natural deposits. This is simply a full area of 30,000 sqm. But that is not the end. Rescue machines from BLMW frequently go inland. The on-call crews are in charge of a 100 km wide coastline, but if necessary, helicopters can be sent even further. In 1997, during the flood of the century, for example, airmen evacuated residents of flooded villages and towns.
The BLM crews are full on round-the-clock work in Gdynia-Baby Dołach and Darłów. – There is simply a chopper on standby at each base there W-3WARM Anakonda. The machines are additionally supported by the aircraft patrol and expert Bryza from the base in Siemirowice – explains Captain Mar. Kołodziejski. Signal to start action comes with Centre for Maritime Operations-Sea Component Command in Gdynia. The task to be carried out in the form of an order shall be transferred by the emergency caller. Depending on the region in which the incidental occurred, a chopper from 1 of these bases is available. In colloquially speaking, the 1 who is able to scope the site is flying faster. due to the fact that all minute counts in action. However, the work itself, as the airmen point out, is primarily waiting.
The crew appears on base before seven. The first steps are directed to the chopper – they check the operation of individual devices and systems. They choice up the device above the airport plate and leave the lifeguard line. They will then learn about the weather forecast and the distribution of exercises on the surrounding fields. If necessary, they will be able to fly even through restricted zones, but for their own safety they must complete information about possible threats. Finally, the airmen prepare their suits – pilots of the alleged MUPs, lifeguards and peculiar techniques of waterproof suits. In the event of an accident, they will increase their chances of surviving in the cold waters of the Baltic before aid comes. Finally, at 8 o'clock, the crew will be on work for 24 hours. On the 1 hand, airmen stay in standby mode all the time – they control the weather and situation at alternate airports. On the another hand, they're trying to take their thoughts distant from what could happen at any moment. They read, they talk, they watch TV, they practice, they cook. The point is to gather strength – both physical and mental. Of course, this can be hard at first, but with age and internship comes peace. I myself effort to get as much remainder as possible on my shift as possible to catch any sleep. And I don't have a problem with that," admits Captain Mar. Januszko. And st. chor. staff. mar. Bilecki adds: "I think each of us would like to see the shift go on drinking coffee and playing cards. due to the fact that while our ministry can be fascinating, all departure means that somewhere else a misfortune has happened... But it makes no sense to dwell on it. regular rituals besides aid relieve tensions. – In my case it is simply a kind of “treposia” – the St. Chor. staff laughs. mar. Bilecki. – For example, I always decompose my things in the same way and in the same place. A suit, gloves, shoes. Everything must always lie on this, not on another tile," he adds.
This besides comes in useful later, erstwhile the alarm bell sounds, and time will velocity up.
Boat without a helm
What's the hardest part about this job? – The lifeguard must be ready at any time to face a tallness and a sea that is neither warm nor blue at our latitude. I guess the only thing that speaks is that there are no sharks in it – jokes st. chor. staff. mar. Bilecki. Yet, breaking the natural fear of the component is only the first step. – A man waiting for us downstairs: injured, sick, frequently scared. The lifeguard must aid him, take control of the situation – he explains. Half poorness if the victim is on board a ship, boat, boat, where it is dry and usually safe. Worse if he's drifting in the sea. “In all situation, the victim must submit to the will of a lifeguard, and this usually happens. However, undesirable behaviour, in utmost cases aggressive, occurs. Then, after all, it is essential to stay calm and calm, due to the fact that this is about life – both ours and the victim's own – the officer convinces. A separate category is people willing to treat a helicopter's arrival as a doctor's home visit. They anticipate the lifeguard to come down to them, patch them up and let them keep going. And this, unfortunately, does not work like that – admits the staff. mar. Bilecki. Lifeguards don't make looking easy. They're on the ferry. They gather with mobile phones, want to see everything from close up, immortalize an different situation for them – the officer says.
Pilots face another difficulties. – Piloting a chopper by the sea is simply a circumstantial activity – says Captain Januszko. – Especially in mediocre weather conditions and after dark, erstwhile the surface of the sea merges with the sky, and for landmarks it is difficult. The search for tiny individuals, let alone the survivors, becomes truly difficult. He engages the full crew. In addition to the commander who must focus on piloting and tracking instruments, he reserves. The challenge is besides to approach the units themselves, especially tiny ones, like the yachts mentioned.
The chopper crew is bound by many procedures. On the another hand, however, its members must think and act flexibly. nevertheless trivial it would sound, they should be prepared to be amazed at any moment. Not long ago, we had a call to the victim on the yacht. However, there was already a civilian SAR ship on site. So we reached out to his crew. They took the victim to their homes and left for a safe distance, and we took him from their deck. It was easier due to the fact that we avoided maneuvering around the mast – the Captain Mar reports. Januszko adds that the crew of the strategy of action usually develops until the last minute. On another occasion, his crew received a signal that a ferry passenger was needed to aid from Lithuania to Germany. The female was pregnant, and she felt worse. – When we got there, she turned out to be pregnant.. We were going for 1 person, we were coming back with two," the officer says. He besides remembered a call to a yacht. His captain returned from a lonely regatta, and at 1 point his close friends lost contact with him. We flew somewhere close Bornholm. We've located the boat. She was walking under full sails, but we didn't see anyone aboard. No 1 answered the radio calls either. We tried to help, but we couldn't get up and stand in a hang. We have nothing but a return to the base – says Captain Mar. Pil. Januszko. Fortunately, this communicative ended happily. The boat was reached by the SAR ship and it was then discovered that the captain was below the deck – safe and sound. He just had his radio damaged. The airmen could've taken a breath. – The deepest in man are always actions that fail. I remember, for example, uncovering boys who walked from shore into the water and disappeared. Turns out they didn't make it. Seeing bodies and remembering the emotions that accompany him is hard to get out of his head. They frequently stay with us for life – says Captain Mar. Pil. Januszko. In the end, though, hundreds of pink stories will always prevail.
But these fewer 100 shares aren't just airmen. Capt. Mar. Kołodziejski: – By the way, it is worth mentioning people who are not seen all day, although they do titanium work, thanks to which sea airmen can bring aid to others, and these are: technicians, engineering and aviation services, tower service, work services. It is simply a number of soldiers and staff of the Ministry of Defence, thanks to which the work and engagement of the SAR crew from the Gdynia Aviation Brigade of the MW execute aviation operations related to search and rescue at sea at the highest level.
