Part of the training on Saturday was get used to being winched, and knowing what to do once in the aircraft. Sometimes Rescue Officers are winched out following a cliff rescue.
Before we start winchman Tony gives a ten minute briefing so we all know the score. Coastguard 106 has two winches (one as a back up)
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| Briefing on the winches |
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| In more detail |
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| The Winch Hook |
The winch hooks are specially designed with a curve and to close fully to ensure these do not get trapped on rocks. At the top left is the slide that opens the hook and keeps it closed at all other times, a fail safe.
The little eyelet on the bottom right is for the zap line....the line that discharges the static electricity that builds up while a helicopter is in the air. The idea is not to grab the zap line before it has discharged...otherwise you get a ZAP! This would not be good.
Tomorrow I'll pop some photos up of us and the lifeboat earlier in the summer practicing winching.
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