USAF Uses UAV in Search for Lost Hikers

[sardak]

From the National Park Service Morning Report - White Sands National Monument, New Mexico

Early on the morning of August 15th, rangers received a report of two hikers who had been lost within the sand dunes overnight. They had planned on camping overnight on Sunday, but became disoriented while returning to their backcountry camp site. The park and Alamo West Volunteer Search and Rescue began search operations under a unified command, with Holloman Air Force Base providing an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to help with the search effort.

With the help of the UAV, rangers were able to narrow the search area to within a quarter mile of where the lost hikers were eventually found. An Army air search and rescue unit out of White Sands Missile Range provided additional air support and spotted the lost hikers just after 11 a.m. The pair, who had been lost for over 12 hours, were found in the dune field more than eight miles from where they had left their car. Both were treated for dehydration and transported to Gerald Champion Hospital in Alamogordo.

The park's military and community partners frequently provide critical air support for rescue operations, which greatly helps the success of rescue operations in the difficult terrain.

Contact Information
Name: Joe Hughes, Acting Chief Ranger
----------

Mike

[Extremepredjudice]

Seems expensive to use a UAV for SAR... Maybe they did it for practise...

[titanII]

Seems expensive to use a UAV for SAR... Maybe they did it for practise...

I would assume that a UAV would be less expensive for the USAF than scrambling a Black Hawk (or other helicopter) with a crew and everything. But then again, a UAV couldn't bring the lost people into safety.

[Extremepredjudice]

Thats what I was thinking.

If they sent out a blackhawk it would train more people... Besides, can't helos be equipped with FLIRs? It'd provide a rescue platform.

An Army air search and rescue unit out of White Sands Missile Range

doesn't say what exactly spotted them, but probably a helo... :p

[Huey Driver]

Thats what I was thinking.

If they sent out a blackhawk it would train more people... Besides, can't helos be equipped with FLIRs? It'd provide a rescue platform.

An Army air search and rescue unit out of White Sands Missile Range

doesn't say what exactly spotted them, but probably a helo... :p

Well if it was Army, it definitely was a helo. No question about it.

[coudano]

Thats what I was thinking.

If they sent out a blackhawk it would train more people... Besides, can't helos be equipped with FLIRs? It'd provide a rescue platform.

An Army air search and rescue unit out of White Sands Missile Range

doesn't say what exactly spotted them, but probably a helo... :p

Well if it was Army, it definitely was a helo. No question about it.

Army has fixed wing assets,
just sayin.

[SarDragon]

Specifically - Transport: C-12, C-20, C-23, C-26, C-37

[lordmonar]

UAV's are cheaper per hour then any other platform they could have used for SAR.

[N Harmon]

The Army has UAVs also.

UAV's are cheaper per hour then any other platform they could have used for SAR.

Are you including CAP, or just strictly military platforms?

[lordmonar]

The Army has UAVs also.

UAV's are cheaper per hour then any other platform they could have used for SAR.

Are you including CAP, or just strictly military platforms?

Military.

[Phil Hirons, Jr.]

UAV's seem to come in all sizes now. I would guess some of them would burn less gas than our aircraft. We might not be the cheapest SAR platform forever.

[N Harmon]

UAV's seem to come in all sizes now. I would guess some of them would burn less gas than our aircraft. We might not be the cheapest SAR platform forever.

It is hard to comment on "forever", but talking solely on fuel usage ignores a lot of factors that enter in when considering the cost of something. There is procurement, maintenance, training the users, and a lot of other things. I have read that the Border Patrol UAVs cost twice as much to operate than their manned aircraft. And they're not flying Cessna 172s.

[Hawk200]

Thats what I was thinking.

If they sent out a blackhawk it would train more people... Besides, can't helos be equipped with FLIRs? It'd provide a rescue platform.

An Army air search and rescue unit out of White Sands Missile Range

doesn't say what exactly spotted them, but probably a helo... :p

Well if it was Army, it definitely was a helo. No question about it.

Army has fixed wing assets,
just sayin.

Nothing suited to SAR.

[JC004]

Sounds expensive.  The Air Force should get an auxiliary for things like this.

[lordmonar]

We do.  We are....and you can PM me if you want to know how to get involved.

[Ed Bos]

Sounds expensive.  The Air Force should get an auxiliary for things like this.

I see what you did there, and I like it.

[N Harmon]

We do.  We are....and you can PM me if you want to know how to get involved.

Sweet, where do I sign up.....hey wait a minute.

[sardak]

I haven't found any more details about the search, but Holloman has both Predators and Reapers.

For reference, the FY 2011 basic reimbursable rates for these, from the DoD comptroller's office, are:
Predator - 737 to 893  $/hr
Reaper - 1334-1514 $/hr
T-41 - 228-348 $/hr

Mike

[Spaceman3750]

I haven't found any more details about the search, but Holloman has both Predators and Reapers.

For reference, the FY 2011 basic reimbursable rates for these, from the DoD comptroller's office, are:
Predator - 737 to 893  $/hr
Reaper - 1334-1514 $/hr
T-41 - 228-348 $/hr

Mike