407 makes forced landing - Victoria
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407 makes forced landing - Victoria
Two people have escaped injury after their helicopter was forced to make an emergency landing on Snake Island off Victoria's south-east coast.
The pilot of the Bell 407 chopper had tried to put the aircraft down on a beach on the island, about 200km south-east of Melbourne, but landed in the water, Australian Maritime Safety Authority spokeswoman Tracey Jiggins said.
A Helimed rescue helicopter from La Trobe, in West Gippsland, had been scrambled to the area and reported seeing the Bell's pilot and passenger walking around on the beach, she added.
"The pilot had been doing scheduled radio calls and was slightly overdue in calling in when an emergency beacon was triggered," Ms Jiggins told AAP.
"At present, we're not sure what has caused the helicopter to make the forced landing but the occupants appear to be okay."
The chopper was en route from Bass Strait to Wilsons Promontory when the emergency beacon was activated, Ms Jiggins said.
www.theage.com.au
The pilot of the Bell 407 chopper had tried to put the aircraft down on a beach on the island, about 200km south-east of Melbourne, but landed in the water, Australian Maritime Safety Authority spokeswoman Tracey Jiggins said.
A Helimed rescue helicopter from La Trobe, in West Gippsland, had been scrambled to the area and reported seeing the Bell's pilot and passenger walking around on the beach, she added.
"The pilot had been doing scheduled radio calls and was slightly overdue in calling in when an emergency beacon was triggered," Ms Jiggins told AAP.
"At present, we're not sure what has caused the helicopter to make the forced landing but the occupants appear to be okay."
The chopper was en route from Bass Strait to Wilsons Promontory when the emergency beacon was activated, Ms Jiggins said.
www.theage.com.au
The vision on Channel Seven this evening showed a fairly intact helicopter sitting in a few feet of water, blades secured, looks like the pilot pulled off a very good landing, apart from a few feet short of the dry stuff 
Shame the media got it a tad wrong, it looked like a very shiny maroon Bell 47: but what's an extra digit between friends
Shame the media got it a tad wrong, it looked like a very shiny maroon Bell 47: but what's an extra digit between friends
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I also saw the TV broadcast and it was definitely a bell 47 in the water not a 407. I would doubt very much it was a helimed rescue helicopter. Unless they are still carrying patients on the skids as in Mash.
Glad to hear all are OK.
Born2fly
Glad to hear all are OK.
Born2fly
born2fly_au wrote
Two different helicopters......
skadi
I would doubt very much it was a helimed rescue helicopter. Unless they are still carrying patients on the skids as in Mash.
A Helimed rescue helicopter from La Trobe, in West Gippsland, had been scrambled to the area and reported seeing the Bell's pilot and passenger walking around on the beach, she added.
skadi
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Helimed refers to HEMS-Helimed 1, the rescue Bell 412 down at Latrobe Valley operated by CHC on contract to the Victorian ambulance mob.
There's another one in Sydney from what I've seen.
Unfortunately with the wind and crappy weather down there right now it will have practically rusted away by the time they drag it out. Not a lot of options other than a big boat or a barge.
There's another one in Sydney from what I've seen.
Unfortunately with the wind and crappy weather down there right now it will have practically rusted away by the time they drag it out. Not a lot of options other than a big boat or a barge.
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There is also a B412 VH-VAA HEMS 3 based at Bendigo in central Victoria. More info on the Rural Ambulance Victoia Website at http://www.ambulance-vic.com.au/Main...licopters.html
Born2fly
Born2fly
