Quick Question...
In late December I was at a private island owned by Disney...Castaway Cay in the Bahamas.
While I was there, a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter flew over several times.
Since the Bahamas is not the United States... why would they be flying over the island?
Is this usual?
Does anyone know?
Thanks for any help on the topic.
Dec 14, 2010
Search-and-rescue coordinators at the Seventh Coast Guard District in Miami launched an HH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Air Station Clearwater, Fla., deployed to the Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center (AUTEC) on Andros Island, Bahamas, to rescue the stranded boaters.
The helicopter crew arrived on scene at 8 p.m. and safely hoisted the two boaters, who were wearing their life jackets, and transferred them to Treasure Cay, Bahamas, in good condition
At least that's what Google says
Walt
Thanks Walt.
That might be what they were doing.
This was on Dec 28,2010...
They were not in a hurry. Perhaps they were assisting in Search and Rescue...
We did have some very nasty waves the day before.
There was even a rouge wave (far North of us) that killed someone around that time.
hmmm.
Paul,
Any number of plausible reasons-drug or smuggling interdiction law enforcement, support for an American cruise ship SOS, a SAR mission, logistics, aids to navigation, environmental protection and military readiness, training flight, etc, etc. Did you get the registration number? Date and time of the photo? Heading of aircraft?
Castaway Cay is easy range from a south Florida USCG Air Station. It looks like a Sikorsky HH-60J JAYHAWK. USCG Clearwater operates them. The HH-60J is adapted for a medium range recovery role and has about a 700 statute mile range, 345 out and 345 back while carrying an additional load such as six survivors in addition to the four man crew.
Hi Doug.
Thanks for your help.
Took the photo on Dec 28,2010 at about 2 Bahamas time.
I could make out 6022 on the photo.
It came in from the South and did about 3 circles over the ship.
Then landed out of view on Castaway Cay.
20 min later it took off and did one more circle over the ship.
It didn't go over my location on the beach to the NW. About a quater mile away from me at all times.
Thanks again Doug!
Wow... I guess it was this one.
6022, Sikorsky HH-60J Jayhawk (S-70B-5), C/N: 70.1705
US Coast gaurd ships and aircraft can be found all over the world. ive seen some in Greece! And a buddy of mine in the USCG is stationed somewhere in the carribean. he monitors the areas around there for smugglers and illegal fishing practices
When I was on my trip to the Caribbean, I did see many Coast Guard ships...
This was at St. Thomas USVI.
I was just surprised to see a helio at a private island in the Bahamas.
There really was no support facilities for the helicopter at that location so it was odd to see it fly over.
