What is it like to be winched up into the Coastguard SAR helicopter India Juliet?

- The following footage has been taken from a training exercise involving a SSILB crew member.

Sit back and watch as a crew member (Ricky) from SSILB gets winched into India Juliet.

Then read his comments below:

This question has been asked by Peter Ian Steak of Shanklin, IOW, he has asked the crew - 'What is it like to be winched up into the Coastguard helicopter India Juliet?'

I had a good word with my 1st Coxswain, who had a good word with the guys over at Lee-On-Solent, who gave us at SSILB the all clear to film a winch exercise, I have edited the footage that I recorded from the day and made it into video file that you can all watch - I have also done a brief below - I hope you enjoy it.

After you have seen the 'What is it like?' text, Sandown & Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat are called up on the VHF radio by 'India Juliet' and is asked to go into formation.

This is where the coxswain positions the Lifeboat into the correct position, ready to take the winch man on-board and once on-board will give further instructions to the coxswain.

The winch man gives instructions to the crew member, making sure that the strop is secure, that the crew members arms are in the correct location and that nothing is caught on the line or the strop itself.

With this he gives the all clear to the winch operator on-board the helicopter and the crew member is winched into the air.

Now for the dizzy part (which I was informed afterwards to raise my legs to stop the spin!) and the great views.

If you have never been in a helicopter, let alone been winched up into a helicopter, it can be a bit worrying, my first winch I was slightly worried, I had seen what was about to happen to me countless amounts of time, but I still had that butterfly feeling in me, trust me these guys know what they are doing and I have 110% trust in them.

Once along side the helicopter door, the winch operator helps pull the crew member onto the door ledge and then into the helicopter.

The crew member then is helped into the helicopters main harness system, the winch operator checking as he goes to make sure that every buckle is secure.

The winch operator gives the all clear to approach the doorway, a chance to have a look through the door, just in time to catch SSILB powering towards 'India Juliet' and come along side her to start the exercise. 

The exercise is touch downs, to aid the winch man practice touching down onto a deck, at the same time it gives the winch operator practice, at the same time in gives the coxswain of the Lifeboat a chance to practice his position, speed and holding skills.

This can be a dangerous time for all involved, as 100% trust is given to each individual person in the exercise - including the pilot, co-pilot and lifeboat crew members as well.

One mistake could result in an injury, possibility of a major injury, death, or major damage to the helicopter or lifeboat and a possibility of mixture within this list.

The lifeboat is in the footage, running at 32 knots, the helicopter is running at about 30 > 32 knots, the day was so clear and so calm that the exercise was run at these speeds.

As you will see, the Lifeboat crew member at the front, is acting as a buffer, making sure that the winch man is not going to hit any part of the boat and is a buffer only - not a grabber.

The other Lifeboat crew member is a observer, making sure that the water ahead is clear of obstacles - Buoys, debris and anything that is going to cause a problem.

A quick look at the winch operator and into the cockpit of 'India Juliet' - to see more details about 'India Juliet' please click HERE  for an in-depth look at her and her crew.

OK, a check over by the winch operator, making sure that I am secure, I am now back in the strop and I am ready to go.

Kneeling over to the door, the winch operator then drops the line out of the door, I make my way to the door ledge, sit down and look down at the rushing water going past below me.

As you can see by my feet I am right on the edge of the door way and what a view of Sandown & Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat.

The winch lifts me slightly off the edge of the ledge and spins me slightly around to view the tail rotor and side pods.

With a slight judder, I start to move down towards SSILB, my crew mates and back on-board SSILB.

   Ricky.

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