Time Out
15th Jan 2004, 15:22
Whistler copter pilot wins flying award
He rescued climbers from a Wyoming peak
Ai Lin Choo, with files from Nicholas Read
Vancouver Sun
Wednesday, January 14, 2004
WHISTLER - A B.C. helicopter pilot who rescued a group of climbers from near the top of a Wyoming mountain after the party was hit by lightning has been named 2003's Pilot of the Year.
Whistler-based Laurence Perry will receive the award March 16 during the Helicopter Association International's Salute to Excellence banquet in Las Vegas.
Perry is joined by Rick Harmon, the other pilot who was part of the July 2003 rescue in Grand Teton National Park, Wyo.
The award recognizes outstanding feats or extraordinary professionalism by civilian helicopter pilots internationally.
In Perry's case, two rescues won him the title, although the July mission is the one he recalls more.
"It's definitely the most intense six hours I've been stranded in a helicopter," he said.
On July 26, a bolt of lightning struck a group of six climbers, instantly killing a 25-year-old woman and injuring the other five. The two groups of three were climbing on the Upper Exum Ridge of the highest peak in the Grand Teton National Park.
Rangers were alerted to the situation at about 3 p.m. and after flying up to assess conditions knew they had to get the climbers off the mountain by that night.
"It looked like there had been an explosion," recalled Perry, who has been piloting helicopters for more than 25 years. "They all looked like they were dead or hanging."
The rescuers faced several challenges. The climbers were near the summit at 13,770 feet (4,197 metres) and with an approaching storm, high winds, dense clouds and weather formations whipping through, it was almost impossible for Perry to keep his machine steady.
"Up there, when the air starts to go through paths, it speeds up. It was like surfing a big wave," he said.
The rescue involved ferrying seven rangers to a rocky helipad near the summit and then dropping them off so they could climb to where the injured climbers were.
When they got there, Perry said "only three climbers were moving. Everyone else looked like they were dead. It was an almost vertical face. One guy was hanging in the middle of the face doubled over backwards on his rope."
"He was a major problem. The boys [rescuers] rappelled down to him and held him in their arms. He was in such bad shape. His head was almost touching his heels. He was hanging by one single rope on his (climbing) harness. They held him up in their arms until another rescuer brought down a stretcher."
Four other climbers were able to be lifted off the mountain one by one in special diaper-like harness called "a screamer suit," Perry said.
When he dropped them off at a helipad down the mountain, he said "they were so knackered [tired] they couldn't stand up. They just lay on the ground and didn't move."
After lifting two of the climbers off ledges and rescuing one who had been hanging off a ledge for more than four hours, Perry turned the job over to another pilot, who transported the climbers, including the others who had made their way down on foot, to the base.
"We just flew solid until around 9:20 at night," he said.
Perry is also being recognized for a 2002 rescue of climbers on the north face of the Grand Teton.
The best thing about winning the award is being recognized by peers, said Perry, who has also worked for Blackcomb Helicopters and Vancouver Helicopters.
"I was stoked when I found out. I was really excited. It's amazing," he said.
Winning a Helicopter Association International (HAI) award is like winning an Oscar for piloting, said Perry.
Established in 1960, the Pilot of the Year award is the oldest of the HAI Salute to Excellence awards and was set up to encourage the highest standards of professionalism in the civil helicopter industry.
For Perry, who has always had an interest in extreme activities, the most challenging aspect of his job is knowing when to stop.
"Rescues can be kind of crazy. It's knowing when to say no and back off," he said. "Finally, you've got to say 'Guys, this isn't going to work.'"
Perry will be returning to work in the Grand Teton area this summer.
source (http://www.canada.com/vancouver/vancouversun/story.asp?id=A59B97C2-9D7F-4394-83B1-75909DEE6DA8)
He rescued climbers from a Wyoming peak
Ai Lin Choo, with files from Nicholas Read
Vancouver Sun
Wednesday, January 14, 2004
WHISTLER - A B.C. helicopter pilot who rescued a group of climbers from near the top of a Wyoming mountain after the party was hit by lightning has been named 2003's Pilot of the Year.
Whistler-based Laurence Perry will receive the award March 16 during the Helicopter Association International's Salute to Excellence banquet in Las Vegas.
Perry is joined by Rick Harmon, the other pilot who was part of the July 2003 rescue in Grand Teton National Park, Wyo.
The award recognizes outstanding feats or extraordinary professionalism by civilian helicopter pilots internationally.
In Perry's case, two rescues won him the title, although the July mission is the one he recalls more.
"It's definitely the most intense six hours I've been stranded in a helicopter," he said.
On July 26, a bolt of lightning struck a group of six climbers, instantly killing a 25-year-old woman and injuring the other five. The two groups of three were climbing on the Upper Exum Ridge of the highest peak in the Grand Teton National Park.
Rangers were alerted to the situation at about 3 p.m. and after flying up to assess conditions knew they had to get the climbers off the mountain by that night.
"It looked like there had been an explosion," recalled Perry, who has been piloting helicopters for more than 25 years. "They all looked like they were dead or hanging."
The rescuers faced several challenges. The climbers were near the summit at 13,770 feet (4,197 metres) and with an approaching storm, high winds, dense clouds and weather formations whipping through, it was almost impossible for Perry to keep his machine steady.
"Up there, when the air starts to go through paths, it speeds up. It was like surfing a big wave," he said.
The rescue involved ferrying seven rangers to a rocky helipad near the summit and then dropping them off so they could climb to where the injured climbers were.
When they got there, Perry said "only three climbers were moving. Everyone else looked like they were dead. It was an almost vertical face. One guy was hanging in the middle of the face doubled over backwards on his rope."
"He was a major problem. The boys [rescuers] rappelled down to him and held him in their arms. He was in such bad shape. His head was almost touching his heels. He was hanging by one single rope on his (climbing) harness. They held him up in their arms until another rescuer brought down a stretcher."
Four other climbers were able to be lifted off the mountain one by one in special diaper-like harness called "a screamer suit," Perry said.
When he dropped them off at a helipad down the mountain, he said "they were so knackered [tired] they couldn't stand up. They just lay on the ground and didn't move."
After lifting two of the climbers off ledges and rescuing one who had been hanging off a ledge for more than four hours, Perry turned the job over to another pilot, who transported the climbers, including the others who had made their way down on foot, to the base.
"We just flew solid until around 9:20 at night," he said.
Perry is also being recognized for a 2002 rescue of climbers on the north face of the Grand Teton.
The best thing about winning the award is being recognized by peers, said Perry, who has also worked for Blackcomb Helicopters and Vancouver Helicopters.
"I was stoked when I found out. I was really excited. It's amazing," he said.
Winning a Helicopter Association International (HAI) award is like winning an Oscar for piloting, said Perry.
Established in 1960, the Pilot of the Year award is the oldest of the HAI Salute to Excellence awards and was set up to encourage the highest standards of professionalism in the civil helicopter industry.
For Perry, who has always had an interest in extreme activities, the most challenging aspect of his job is knowing when to stop.
"Rescues can be kind of crazy. It's knowing when to say no and back off," he said. "Finally, you've got to say 'Guys, this isn't going to work.'"
Perry will be returning to work in the Grand Teton area this summer.
source (http://www.canada.com/vancouver/vancouversun/story.asp?id=A59B97C2-9D7F-4394-83B1-75909DEE6DA8)