Flying Lawyer
3rd Nov 2006, 18:30
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The Master's Medal
The Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators’ award for distinguished conduct. Awarded to any person in aviation, at any time, at the discretion of the Court of the Guild.
Awarded to: CREW OF 7 FLIGHT ARMY AIR CORPS - Warrant Officer Class 1 Challis, Sergeant Khanlarian and Corporal Leah
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WO1 Challis, Aircraft Commander
Citation:
At 1925 hours on the 30th March 2005 the crew of a Bell 212 of 7 Flight Army Air Corps were airborne, conducting night currency training in the Labi area in the Sultanate of Brunei, when they were notified of a Priority 1 casualty in the Tutong area where a military exercise was taking place. The casualty had heat exhaustion with a temperature of 104 degrees and was at serious risk.
The aircraft set off for the Tutong with good weather conditions. On approaching the hillier terrain of the Tutong, however, it was abundantly clear that the whole area was covered in a line of thunderstorms with heavy rain and poor visibility. The casualty's location lay approximately 4 miles into the high ground of the Tutong ridge. Visibility was rapidly reducing in the rain and stratus cloud was forming on top of the jungle canopy. The aircraft was descended to 30 ft above the canopy to hover‑taxi with the Britestar for illumination and the cabin door open so all 3 crew could see as much as possible. Whilst picking a path to avoid the increasing amounts of low stratus that was rapidly forming due to the deluge of rain, control was handed back and forth to whichever pilot had the best references. The aircraft got to within 2 miles of the casualty when the left hand seat handling pilot lost his references. WO1 Challis, the right hand seat aircraft commander, had no reference but immediately took control and initiated a full power climb whilst turning west, a heading known to take the aircraft into clear air.
Visual Meteorological conditions were re‑established within a few minutes and the crew flew off to the NW to re‑evaluate the situation. After considering the wind direction and the general drift of the bulk of the storms, a second attempt was made from a different direction. The same low stratus and visibility problems were encountered but steady progress was made towards the casualty as they hover-taxied above the canopy. After approximately 10 minutes the aircraft was within quarter of a mile of the landing point but it could not be seen due to a bank of stratus obscuring it and the approach direction which made it difficult to be seen from the ground. A torch was illuminated on the landing point and was spotted by the winch operator. He gave a commentary of its location as the aircraft was positioned for an approach. On landing the casualty was emplaned and the aircraft took off and headed west to clear the hills but the most expedient route out was blocked due to cloud. On turning back towards the landing point a break in the cloud layer to the NW gave a clear sight of the high ground and the clear air to the west. A climb was initiated and the aircraft was quickly clear of all weather and in cruise conditions towards the Medical Reception Station.
The operation drew heavily on the experience and gallantry of the crew. Its successful outcome in a demanding environment, at night, in poor weather conditions was only possible due to exceptional crew co‑operation throughout its 40 minute duration. For their perseverance and exceptional dedication to duty in completing a task that the crew were neither briefed for nor expecting to do and the resultant distinguished conduct displayed, WO1 Challis and his crew are awarded the Master’s Medal.
The Medal was presented at the Guild's annual Trophies & Awards Banquet held at the Guildhall, London.
More details of the event here: LINK (http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=249880)
(Picture copyright Gerald Sharpe Photography)
The Master's Medal
The Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators’ award for distinguished conduct. Awarded to any person in aviation, at any time, at the discretion of the Court of the Guild.
Awarded to: CREW OF 7 FLIGHT ARMY AIR CORPS - Warrant Officer Class 1 Challis, Sergeant Khanlarian and Corporal Leah
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v146/FlyingLawyer/MastersMedal.jpg
WO1 Challis, Aircraft Commander
Citation:
At 1925 hours on the 30th March 2005 the crew of a Bell 212 of 7 Flight Army Air Corps were airborne, conducting night currency training in the Labi area in the Sultanate of Brunei, when they were notified of a Priority 1 casualty in the Tutong area where a military exercise was taking place. The casualty had heat exhaustion with a temperature of 104 degrees and was at serious risk.
The aircraft set off for the Tutong with good weather conditions. On approaching the hillier terrain of the Tutong, however, it was abundantly clear that the whole area was covered in a line of thunderstorms with heavy rain and poor visibility. The casualty's location lay approximately 4 miles into the high ground of the Tutong ridge. Visibility was rapidly reducing in the rain and stratus cloud was forming on top of the jungle canopy. The aircraft was descended to 30 ft above the canopy to hover‑taxi with the Britestar for illumination and the cabin door open so all 3 crew could see as much as possible. Whilst picking a path to avoid the increasing amounts of low stratus that was rapidly forming due to the deluge of rain, control was handed back and forth to whichever pilot had the best references. The aircraft got to within 2 miles of the casualty when the left hand seat handling pilot lost his references. WO1 Challis, the right hand seat aircraft commander, had no reference but immediately took control and initiated a full power climb whilst turning west, a heading known to take the aircraft into clear air.
Visual Meteorological conditions were re‑established within a few minutes and the crew flew off to the NW to re‑evaluate the situation. After considering the wind direction and the general drift of the bulk of the storms, a second attempt was made from a different direction. The same low stratus and visibility problems were encountered but steady progress was made towards the casualty as they hover-taxied above the canopy. After approximately 10 minutes the aircraft was within quarter of a mile of the landing point but it could not be seen due to a bank of stratus obscuring it and the approach direction which made it difficult to be seen from the ground. A torch was illuminated on the landing point and was spotted by the winch operator. He gave a commentary of its location as the aircraft was positioned for an approach. On landing the casualty was emplaned and the aircraft took off and headed west to clear the hills but the most expedient route out was blocked due to cloud. On turning back towards the landing point a break in the cloud layer to the NW gave a clear sight of the high ground and the clear air to the west. A climb was initiated and the aircraft was quickly clear of all weather and in cruise conditions towards the Medical Reception Station.
The operation drew heavily on the experience and gallantry of the crew. Its successful outcome in a demanding environment, at night, in poor weather conditions was only possible due to exceptional crew co‑operation throughout its 40 minute duration. For their perseverance and exceptional dedication to duty in completing a task that the crew were neither briefed for nor expecting to do and the resultant distinguished conduct displayed, WO1 Challis and his crew are awarded the Master’s Medal.
The Medal was presented at the Guild's annual Trophies & Awards Banquet held at the Guildhall, London.
More details of the event here: LINK (http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=249880)
(Picture copyright Gerald Sharpe Photography)