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FAB operation used an H-36 Caracal to remove two sick crew members from a ship far from the coast of Recife, in an aeromedical mission that required hovering, winch, specialized team, and coordination between rescue units.
The Brazilian Air Force rescued, on August 24, 2024, two crew members from the vessel Bourdeaux who were about 80 nautical miles off the coast of Recife, in Pernambuco, with gastrointestinal infection, fever, suspected sepsis, and other illnesses.
Conducted with a H-36 Caracal helicopter, the operation used winch hoisting after the patients began to require intensive care unit treatment, a condition that made aeromedical evacuation the fastest alternative to bring them ashore.
The mission was under the responsibility of the First Squadron of the Eighth Aviation Group, the Falcon Squadron, a unit based at Natal Air Base, in Parnamirim, Rio Grande do Norte, and specialized in search and rescue operations.
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After contact with the Recife Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Center, SALVAERO-RECIFE, the Aerospace Operations Command coordinated the aircraft’s deployment and the operational response needed to reach the vessel at sea.
High-seas rescue required hovering over the ship
At 03:35, the H-36 Caracal took off from Parnamirim, proceeded to Recife for refueling, and then continued towards the point where the vessel was, in an area far from the coast of Pernambuco.
Over the ship, the aircraft needed to remain in hovering flight while the SAR team descended to the deck to prepare the evacuation of the two patients, as there was no possibility of landing on the vessel.
Used in search and rescue operations, the acronym SAR comes from the English Search and Rescue and identifies teams trained to operate in emergency situations, including in hard-to-reach environments, such as maritime areas far from the coast.
In this type of mission, the helicopter needs to maintain stability without touching the ship, while the winch creates a vertical connection between the cabin and the deck, which can move according to sea conditions.
According to the FAB, the military used a stretcher and rescue sling to remove the sick crew members, a procedure adopted due to the impossibility of landing, the distance from the coast, and access limitations by other means.
Team had ten military personnel aboard the H-36 Caracal
Ten military personnel participated in the operation aboard the aircraft, including two pilots, an aircraft mechanic, a winch operator, three rescue men, a doctor, and two nurses.
Each role was part of a coordinated sequence to remove the patients from the deck, ensure the safety of the hoisting, and maintain assistance during the aerial transfer to Recife, where ground teams awaited the helicopter’s arrival.
During the main stage of the mission, six hoists were performed in 32 minutes, including the necessary movements to lower the rescue team and lift the crew members to the cabin of the H-36 Caracal.
After the removal of the patients was completed, the aircraft returned to Recife and landed at 07:20, when an ambulance was already waiting to transport the patients to the specialized hospital network and continue medical care.
Winch transforms helicopter into medical access at sea
The image of an H-36 Caracal hovering over a ship shows how large helicopters can operate in emergencies beyond the immediate reach of ambulances, ports, runways, or land transportation.
At sea, the aircraft functions as a means of transport, a rescue platform, and a bridge for medical care, allowing a specialized team to reach the point of occurrence without relying on fixed infrastructure at the location.
Among the most sensitive stages of the mission is the use of the winch, as the procedure occurs with the aircraft suspended and requires constant control of altitude, distance, and position relative to the vessel.
While the pilots keep the helicopter stabilized in the air, the equipment operator controls the cable and monitors the movement below the aircraft, in communication with the rescuers working on the deck.
On the ship, the rescue men need to organize the stretcher, strap, and movement of the patients without losing reference to the cabin, the cable, and the movement of the vessel, which can vary with the sea’s sway.
Besides the natural instability of the maritime environment, structures such as masts, antennas, and ship equipment require a safe distance from the aircraft, making planning and radio coordination decisive parts of the operation.
Falcão Squadron operates in search and rescue
Based at Natal Air Base, the Falcão Squadron operates in search and rescue missions and aeromedical evacuation, with the capability to operate in remote areas and scenarios where access by conventional means is limited.
In the incident involving the vessel Bourdeaux, SALVAERO-RECIFE received the initial contact, assessed the mission’s necessity, and integrated the response with the Aerospace Operations Command and the mobilized crew.
An aeromedical evacuation of this type involves more than just the movement of an aircraft, as it requires identifying the emergency, choosing the appropriate means, safely extracting the patients, and activating ground support upon arrival.
The rescue also shows how military aviation extends the reach of medical care in regions where there is no quick access by land, especially when the emergency occurs far from the coast and depends on a coordinated response.
In the case of the ship Bourdeaux, the evacuation of the sick crew members brought together pilots, operators, rescuers, and health professionals in an operation where the H-36 Caracal served as a direct link between the deck and the hospital network.
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