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Satellites help rescue man at sea

Air Force Space Command News Service

12/16/02

By Lt. Col. K.E. Warren 920th Rescue Group

PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- A medical emergency at sea turned into a dramatic humanitarian mission for the 920th Rescue Group; providing the unit its first chance to use a new satellite-based tracking and communications system during a rescue.

Crews from Air Force Reserve Command's 920th RQG here dispatched Dec. 8 on two HH-60 helicopters and one HC-130 airplane to locate, recover, treat and transport an ailing man on a commercial fishing vessel approximately 500 miles off Florida's east coast.

Pararescue specialists jumped from a helicopter into the ocean, swam to the ship and boarded it. They stabilized the captain, Mike Swann, who was suffering from kidney stones, put him on a hoist and lifted him up into the helicopter.

This was the first rescue conducted anywhere using a new, state-of-the-art system called the Global Personnel Recovery System. This system was installed in 920th RQG helicopters last week. It's a quantum technology leap for combat rescue capabilities and also has applications for other types of military missions.

Using satellites to transmit data back to command centers where the mission can be visually monitored on a screen, GPRS provides near real-time tracking globally. GPRS also provides two-way instant messaging between personnel at the home base and the crews flying the mission.

"We can maintain constant communication with our crews and actually watch them operate through every phase of a rescue mission from right here. It doesn't matter if they're off the coast of Florida or in Korea," said Maj. Marc DiPaolo, an HH-60 pilot with the 920th.

"Being able to watch this mission evolve and communicate instantly with the aircrew from start to finish was the ultimate warm fuzzy," said Col. Tim Tarchick, commander of the 920th RQG. "We're ushering in new technology here at the 920th Rescue Group that will provide a true advantage for our war fighters, as well as enhance our humanitarian and space support operations."

The system was certainly key in providing aid to the ailing captain.

"The patient was in extreme distress and ran the risk of infection due to the kidney stones. He needed to be evacuated," said Master Sgt. Doug Kestranek, one of the pararescuers who boarded the 75-foot ship.

Swann was flown to Melbourne, Fla., where he was treated and released later that night. "The Air Force really came through for us. I can't thank them enough. They put so much effort into this, it was like a military operation," Anna Maria Swann, his wife, said. "I don't think people realize what our Air Force can do for us. It's not just going to war. It's helping citizens in need ... in cases like this with search and rescue."