Local Heroes Global One

[Dan]

http://torontostar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentSe...d=1071097810434

For their efforts in the dramatic April 17 rescue this year of an overturned boat belonging to the Peel Regional Police Marine Unit, three civilians — Elizabeth Cote, Robert Hargraves and Mike O'Drowsky (the latter two were working for Global News and used their chopper to help out) — received community member awards, and constables Paul Hanton and Ron Deli were recognized with a teamwork commendation award.

 

[helicopper]

another good news helo story... congrats to all - great work!!

 

[cyclic monkey]

Well done Global crew.

Let's also note the decoration of Corporal Jennings last week by the Governor General.
........from the GG's website....

RCMP Corporal Dwayne Harlem Jennings, M.S.M.,
Vancouver, B. C.
Meritorious Service Medal (civil division)

During a severe snowstorm on November 5, 2001, helicopter pilot Dwayne Jennings assisted a police crew stranded on a rugged mountainside following a manhunt in the Hemlock Valley area of British Columbia. In spite of the extreme weather conditions, Cpl Jennings volunteered to transport a search team to rescue his comrades. After locating them, Cpl Jennings managed to skilfully land the helicopter on the tip of one skid and repeat this tricky manoeuvre three times, in order to offload personnel and supplies. The rescue team was then able to exit the craft and return safely with the victims.

Nice medal. I bet that looks good hanging on the B3's dash.

 

[putz]

Flying in a severe snow storm( typical day helisking) toeing in three times( any given day on fires or Geological job)
:huh: Does that mean we all are going to get a medal?? Just wondering. 🙄

 

[cyclic monkey]

In the Newspaper article about this award, Corporal Jennings seemed rather sheepish ( if we dare use that word on this site) about getting the medal, and said something about 'taking one for the team'.
Hopefully that team includes you and me. Someone on the team should get recognition for the extra effort that pilots go to at times. I'm glad someone nominated him, and respect his efforts. Well done Dwayne.

What would you do Putz ? Decline the medal ? Like you say, just wondering.

 

[Vortex Ring]

If the guy looked sheepish that's just the behaviour of a true hero, being humble.

Of course one should simply accept the award with a simple thank you. The other comments on the deeds pilots do so often is also valid but one must think of context. It's not so much the manouvre but where and how it has to be done and under what conditions and constraints. The fact that someone get recognition for a great deed is fantastic as we (Canadians) are so damn reluctant to acknowledge heroic acts.

Simply said, he deserved it and many many more of you deserve recognition for things you do on a nearly daily basis but you rarely get it. So when one of us gets a little pat on the back then I say we can all join in and say atta boy and be supportive of one another.

Fly safe, keep the flippy parts pointin' skyward and the skids or wheels to the dirt.

 

[The Real Batman]

Perhaps he's sheepish because he knows he could have been violated, but instead he received a medal. The line between a foolish flight and a heroic flight can be difficult to see - especially in a snow storm.
Just thinking out loud.

 

[walterheneghan]

re Cpl Jennings...

A fine line indeed. As an EMS pilot, I often have discussions with some of my co-workers regarding our role...

... but I think it important to note: The Canadian military and the Coast Guard are probable the only RESCUE pilots in the country..for the rest of us, do the math:

Don't risk 3 lives to maybe save one.

Walter

 

[MagSeal]

tell that to the family of the guy you leave out there to die.

It's all about decision making, make the right choice, you're a hero, make the wrong choice, you're a statistic. (In some senses even statistics get recognition for the efforts.)

remember a little while back when there was a boat capsized near vancouver, the police divers had a rule not to enter a capsized boat, and they had to wait until military divers arrived? Bad choice to save people, breaking a rule might have saved somebody in that case. It may also have added to the body count.

 

[The Real Batman]

The problem with that attitude is that when you make the wrong choice, more people die.

You, as the pilot, are supposed to know what the rules say, and the rules are there to keep you from killing more innocent people. It's one thing to put yourself at risk, and another to risk people's lives who don't understand the danger.

 

[twinstar_ca]

actually, mag, wasn't that the coast guard boys in that sit?? :mellow:

when i was an active paramedic, i suffered from an extreme case of "protectus thy buttus"... i could not help anyone if i became a victim myself... so i learned to look at all situations before i went in...

i'm sure that dwayne looked at all the parameters and decided it was a mission he could complete.. that he gets a medal for it is cool...

 

[LongRanger]

By’s, listen to yourselves. <_<

Dwayne didn’t ask for this award, someone else thought he was deserving. Taking a pat on the back and shredding it to bits. Should be ashamed of yourselves.

Put yourself in the circumstances of that day and you probably would have done the same. It's easy to sit back after and say the likes of...

Perhaps he's sheepish because he knows he could have been violated

The Canadian military and the Coast Guard are probable the only RESCUE pilots in the country..for the rest of us, do the math

All of us have or will at some point in our career push our limits. Who are any of us to criticize Dwayne for his actions that day? If he operated within the vis limits of the CAR's and weighed the options carefully, which I suspect he did, then he cannot be criticized. Someone wrote it up as operating in a major snowstorm. That was someone’s interpretation that may differ from anyone else. From what I’ve seen since moving my residence to the mainland, things come to a screeching halt with 5 cm of snow!! Some consider that a snowstorm!!

As for who should do SAR work, part of the mandate for the RCMP is the protection of the public. That involves SAR work; it is in our provincial contracts.

Congratulations Dwayne. Keep up the good work and play safe. If these posts continue I’ll recommend you for another for having to endure these shots!!

LR

 

[STICKJIGGLER]

Good post Longranger,and Congrats to Mr Jennings, nice to see someone getting the recognition they deserve.

As for Walter's post. "The military and Coast Guard being the only Rescue Pilots in Canada". I have to disagree...

There is a group of maybe 10 Pilots in our country that specialize in high altitude longline Mtn Rescue. (Class D) Working with an elite group of National Park Wardens who sling into some of the most difficult locations western Canada has to offer. We do this on a regular basis, without fanfare, media attention or any other form of recognition. It's our job.

The Military and Coast Guard have their own areas of expertise, I have in the past worked along side them in Rescue situations and have always been impressed with their ability and Proffessionalism.

The Mtn Rescue Pilots seem to go completely unnoticed for some reason. Another member of this group, a gentleman in Haines Junction by the name of Doug Manconnan (spelling) has been consistantly performing the highest altitude rescues in North America for years.


All of us have to guard ourselves from making heat of the moment decisions that could backfire with tragic results.

End of Rant...

 

[MagSeal]

Twinstar, now that you mention it, it does ring a bell as th CG.
Either way, I think we know the story behind it.

Has anyone ever stopped at the scene of a car accident and rendered assistance?
In todays day and age, with AIDS, hepatitis and the likes, you should get some recognition for putting yourself at risk.

Imagine standing there watching and not doing anything. The guilt of not helping, or the pride in helping, your choice. I'll choose the pride thank you.

 

[walterheneghan]

Hey StickJiggler:

Didn't mean to exclude the mountain rescue guys...good point you made.

LR: I think you missed my point: No-one on this board has revealed that he/she has intimate knowledge of the situation that day. One man's snowstorm might be another's "flurries".... as the rescue was successful, one might infer that he made all the right decisions. My purpose was to opine that most of us are ill-equipped for these types of missions; and that risk management demands that we consider the potential pitfalls of our decisions. I don't run to the helicopter when the EMS dispatch phone rings; I don't run on scene calls; and I tell my crewmembers (pilots and medics alike) to do the same. I don't believe in the God/Hero complex; it has killed far more people than it has saved; and is, in my opinion, a bad paradigm.

and MAGSEAL: I didn't cause the guy to be where he is; I don't cause the drunk to drive or the kid to attempt suicide; I am paid to ensure that I conduct my flights (EMS, life saving or not) IAW with the CARS and common sense. 3 > 1 100% of the time.

WH