Hoist Dry Run or Overhead Check
I highly encourage the dry run or overhead check (static or dynamic) on operational hoist missions. Whereas in training, we typically hoist to the same vessels repeatedly, operationally, except for some cruise ships, I have never hoisted to the same boat twice. Also, since a vessel’s captain and crew rarely have experience with Coast Guard helicopter hoisting, a dry run is usually worth the time and fuel spent because on most occasions, particularly for fishing vessel hoists, it makes the overall evolution more efficient.
A dry run is positioning the helicopter over the hoist area, without actually hoisting, to ensure the vessel is prepared to hoist. Although large, deep draft vessels are experienced in helicopter operations, most commercial fishermen are not and despite having briefed the captain and crew on the hurricane force winds the helicopter generates as well as having obtained their assurance that the deck is ready for hoisting, my rotor wash has emptied trash cans, sent plywood airborne and fishing gear into the water. In addition to preventing surprises from occurring mid hoist when items on deck have not been properly stowed or secured, the dry run allows pilots to observe the boat’s ride and consider course changes with the captain, it permits helicopter heading and altitude adjustments to optimize hoist references and obstacle clearance, and allows the aircrew to observe the hoisting area hazards from overhead.
By creating a shared mental model regarding the helicopter’s approach and providing the aircrew with time to assess obstacles in their quadrant, including whether they can monitor clearance, a rehearsal eliminates needing to abort or proceeding with a suboptimal hoist.
Over the last 10 years, Coast Guard rotary wing aviation has increased the use of what our community refers to as an “overhead check.” The “overhead check” was initially developed for hoisting to vertical surfaces (cliffs) and involves positioning the helicopter over the insertion point and sending the rescue swimmer straight down to a target location. The overhead check has evolved and is now used for many different operational hoists. To further increase the utility of the overhead check, the next step is to exercise the option of sliding away from the hoist area after the overhead check is complete. While sometimes it is optimal to stay directly overhead, other times, the pilots can provide a more stable hoist platform if they slide away and approach again, like how we conduct the majority of our boat hoists (more to follow on the merits of “dynamic” and “static” hoist evolutions in another post). Using the overhead check with a slide out after the check, and a slide in as the device is delivered, can accomplish a dry run and hoist in one seamless evolution.
As an operational best practice, the overhead check, followed by sliding away, should be included in training. The MH60T Coast Guard community employs a lot of “crawl, walk, run” training, which is excellent for initial training and regaining proficiency, but aside from a dry run there are no “warmups” in operational missions. When qualified, current, and proficient crews train, it is beneficial to decide on an operational scenario, conduct a dry run or an overhead check, slide away, and then affect the scenario driven hoist operation. By blending risk management with operational efficiency, this sequence creates a more realistic training scenario.