NAS Key West SAR: Optimizing Long Range Maritime Search and Rescue for the Future Fight

NAS Key West SAR: Optimizing Long Range Maritime Search and Rescue for the Future Fight

By AWSC Joshua Teague, USN and AWS2 Brett Medford, USN

Over the course of the last two years, the entire team at Naval Air Station Key West (NASKW) Search and Rescue (SAR) has undergone a mindset shift to focus on optimizing maritime SAR techniques. Recognizing that the mission, environment, and requirements faced on a daily basis at NASKW SAR align with those expected of the future fight, NASKW strives to be a community leader in the development of techniques, tactics, and procedures for maritime personnel recovery. While encountering many hurdles, we believe we have discovered both structural and procedural changes that will better equip any unit tasked with maritime SAR.

The first hurdle is cabin space. When faced with the task of conducting a maritime recovery at distance, the accepted standard is using the dual internal axillary “double bubble” fuel tank configuration. These tanks considerably limit cabin space. By turning the left gunner seat to face aft, and centering it in the cabin, we were able to make up for valuable lost space taken by the internal auxiliary fuel tanks. This allowed for additional medical gear to be stowed, in addition to the two Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC) litters needed for a dual ejection seat aircraft.

The next hurdle, which is arguably the most limiting factor, is time. Using the local SAR requirements of supporting a recovery out to 200 nautical miles (nm), the “double bubble” configuration leaves approximately 30 minutes of fuel for both the search and recovery phases. The average time it takes for a Navy Rescue Swimmer to recover one survivor via the MEDEVAC litter is between 15 to 20 minutes, leaving only 10 to 15 minutes of search endurance prior to a BINGO fuel state.

Being unable to change the performance of the aircraft, we began to delve into the recovery procedures to find efficiencies and reduce wasted time. Breaking down each step, we isolated and timed each action and process. We found that the primary reason for the prolonged time to recover a survivor is related to deploying the litter. After jumping the swimmer from 10 feet above the water, the helicopter has to climb and establish a steady hover at 70 feet. Once in a stable hover, the Hoist Operator would lower the litter via the hoist down to the swimmer. This process averaged seven minutes.

To counter the excessive time in a hover, we chose to cast the litter from the helicopter before the swimmer jumped. After implementing this technique, we were able to reduce the time to both jump the swimmer and have the litter in the immediate vicinity to one and a half minutes.

The next most time consuming process was the time it takes for a Rescue Swimmer to safely strap the survivor into the MEDEVAC litter. This process averages five minutes. We found that having an additional rescue swimmer to coordinate the litter straps while the other focuses on the survivor results in significant time savings, even after factoring in the time to hoist the additional swimmer. With the use of a second swimmer, securing the survivor to the litter can be reduced to two minutes. When combined with the litter casting procedure, we have been consistently able to recover a litterborn survivor and all Rescue Swimmers in just over seven minutes, less than half the time of the 15-20 minute feet standard.

The final hurdle is training. Getting consistently fast results did not happen quickly, and requires proficiency and precision. Our Rescue Swimmers spent multiple pool training sessions getting in their reps and sets to be as efficient as possible in the water. While there is no current requirement for rescue swimmers to conduct live litter recoveries in the open ocean, we believe that Fleet squadrons should similarly shift focus to these types of recoveries, and we encourage both the SARMM and SWTP requirements to mirror these real world scenarios. Training how we wish to fight is critical in the community. To maintain the proficiency required for these types of results, we recommend that units strive for at least one live open ocean rescue training event every week.

Further recent additions to optimize SAR training have included submitting more than 20 action items for change in the NTTP 3-50.1 and OPNAV 3130.6. One of these recent changes include the development of a new SAR Fitness Test that mirrors the physical requirements needed during a reallife rescue. We have also assisted PMA-202 in the testing of new ICOMM swimmer radios and high-visibility swimmer apparel. Finally, we continue to develop new in-water survivor escape procedures. All of these changes have been made in an effort to optimize recovery time. We remain postured to continue these efforts.

Due to frequent realistic training, a mindset to challenge the status quo, and continuing to seek improvement in all we do, NAS Key West can proudly say we have some of the best maritime Rescue Swimmers in the Navy. We endeavor to continue developing best practices as we remain part of the greatest fighting force in the world.