This page shall serve as the official Standard Operating Procedures for SeaHawk operations and certification:

Last Updated:  08/01/2023
By:   Kidd B.

Standard Operating Procedure

SeaHawk(SH)

-Purpose

The purpose of this document is to serve as the main point of reference for all SOPs pertaining to SAFD’s SeaHawk(SH) helicopter. Questions or concerns that extend past the scope of this SOP may be referred to the immediate supervisors. Deviations from the instructions in this document while operating in an official capacity could lead to disciplinary action at the discretion of leadership.

-SeaHawk Activation / Dispatch

• SH can be used by SH certified personnel for appropriate SAFD operations to include:

  1.  Search & Rescue

  2.  Swift & Standing Water Operations

  3.  Overhead Surveillance (not PD related)

• In order for SH to be activated it must be authorized by the highest rank on duty (Specialist+)

• Only one SeaHawk should be activated at a time unless a Commanding officer approves additional units

• For rescue operations utilizing any of the Seahawk's specialized equipment, a crew of at least 2 SeaHawk certified Specialist+ should be in the helicopter

• SH serves a main purpose of search and rescue 

  2. • It is our main helicopter to be used with the rope rescue basket, rappelling rope & camera  

     • It is also the main helicopter for overhead surveillance during SAFD operations to include water rescues

-SeaHawk Expectations

• SH is not to be used for patient transport, request EMS 

• SH should be landed only in areas that are safe from blocking traffic, a helipad, or open fields

• If SH is unable to land safely, ground crews or police should be called to assist with landing zone operations

• SH must be locked whenever SAFD personnel are not inside (landing and exiting)

• SH is not to be used for any police related services

• SH pilots must value their life and the life of any crew members above all else

• In the event that SH is stolen or it’s pilots are taken hostage it must be reported immediately to the city authorities using /report and to the police department using /911 and appropriate communication via radio or use of /panic

• Wear your seatbelt at all times when in SH- call out “seat belt check”

SeaHawk should be staffed with a minimum of two personnel

• A certified/trained SH Pilot

• Minimum of a second "crew-chief" who is a Specialist+ trained in our Special Operations SOPs

• Additional members are "crew-members" 

-FAA Regulations

• All SAFD aircrafts are exempt from altitude restrictions

• SH is only required to announce takeoffs/landings at base (SAFD locations) on VHF 100

• Any breach of FAA regulations can be reported by switching to VHF 1 (PD Radio)

Remember to be courteous when using radio 1

- switch to radio 1

- wait to hear if there is an active scene

- if there is use /911 to report instead, do not interrupt

- if there is not, call out “<SAFD/FIRE/SeaHawk> to PD” and wait for someone to respond before relaying any further message.

FAA Regulations

-Operational Guidelines

RESCUE BASKET OPERATIONS:

• The pilot of SH needs to be the person who spawns and attaches the rescue basket

• Pressing "E" in the designated spawn locations will spawn a rescue basket

• Vehicle clean-ups will remove rescue baskets

  • THIS INCLUDES DURING AN ACTIVE RESCUE. The basket will disappear

    • Pilot will need to find a safe place to disconnect the basket. The patient will end up on the ground

    • The pilot will then have to proceed to a basket spawn location and re-engage the rescue efforts.

• Hovering above the spawned rescue basket at  ____ height and pressing x will lock the basket onto the SeaHawk

• Pressing the "⬇️" will extend the rope.  The rope has a maximum length of ____ 

• Pressing the "⬆️" will retract the rope.  When fully retracted the basket will "lock into place" which is when the controls of SH are most stable

  • When fully retracted and attached to the SH, there is collision avoidance and you will be unable to land. This prevents from crashing into the ground (however, you can still crash into the water)

• Pressing the "➡️" will lock the rope at the current length.  

• When the rescue basket touches ground, a prompt will appear "rescue basket has touched the ground"

  • Pressing the "➡️" with this prompt showing will lock the rescue basket on the ground 

    • • This "lock to the ground" function is best on solid, flat ground.  Tests have shown it doesn't always work on rocky terrain. ( be prepared)

• • • • A victim on their side & back needs to spam "E" SLOWLY in order to enter the basket. 

      • Victim needs to be basically inside of the basket to be close enough for this to work

REPELLING OPERATIONS:

• Coming Soon

• Pressing "X" will deploy the repelling rope.  The rope has a maximum length of ____ 

• Pressing "SPACEBAR" will place the crewmember onto the rope and start the decent

CAMERA OPERATIONS:

• Coming Soon

• Pressing "Right Mouse" will engage the 'Spot Light'

• Pressing "Left Ctrl" will change the 'Brightness'

• Pressing "Left Alt" will change the 'Radius'

• Pressing "Mouse Scroll" will change the 'Zoom'

• Pressing "___" will change the '___'

SeaHawk Technician Selection:

• Rank:  Specialist +

• Firehawk Certified Pilot & Crew-Chief

• Approval from Command Staff

• Approval from SeaHawk Lead

• Trainee is responsible for coordinating training time through the Lead

• Lead is responsible for tracking overall progress and training hours per the SOP

• Once training program minimums have been met, Lead will present candidate to Fire Chief for approval

• Candidate shall operate in this capacity until Discord role is granted by the Chief

• Command reserves the right to approve or deny any certification process and it can be removed at any time at their discretion

SeaHawk Turnover Process: 

Phase 1:

[SESSION #] [SESSION TYPE]   [TIME] [TOPIC/TASK/OBJECTIVES]

• SESSION 1 REVIEW/CLASSROOM 1 hour SOP Review & Known Scuffs for Basket

• SESSION 2 PRACTICAL 0.5 hour Camera Operations and practice

• SESSION 3 PRACTICAL 1 hour Hovering Flat Terrain w/ Basket

• SESSION 4 PRACTICAL 1 hour Hovering Mountain Terrain & Water / Basket

• SESSION 5 PRACTICAL 1 hour Repelling Controls & Operations

Phase 2:

[SESSION #] [SESSION TYPE]   [TIME] [TOPIC/TASK/OBJECTIVES]

• SESSION 1 PRACTICAL 0.5 hour Rescue Basket Locations

• SESSION 2 PRACTICAL 1 hour Rescue of Ambulatory Victim

• SESSION 3 PRACTICAL 1 hour Rescue of Non-Ambulatory Victim w/ Crewmember on ground

• SESSION 4 PRACTICAL 1 hour Rescue of Non-Ambulatory Victim w/ Crewmember in Helicopter

• SESSION 5 PRACTICAL 1 hour Victim Handoff to EMS or Ground-Crews

Phase 3:

[SESSION #] [SESSION TYPE]   [TIME] [TOPIC/TASK/OBJECTIVES]

• SESSION 1 SCENARIO UKN Downed Hiker / FLAT Terrain

• SESSION 2 SCENARIO UKN Downed Hiker / MOUNTAIN Terrain

• SESSION 1 SCENARIO UKN Drowning Victim/ Water Rescue

**10+ hours of documented total flight time**

**Certified SeaHawk Pilots will have the 'SeaHawk' discord role**