Macaw helicopters makes high seas rescue

Saipan’s Macaw Helicopters flew a dramatic, life-saving mission when a crew member of a research ship on the high seas needed hospitalization.

The crew member fell ill last Saturday (April 24) while the ship, the Research Vessel Joides Resolution, was several hundred miles west of Saipan. Via a satellite telephone link, the Joides Resolution contacted a Saipan shipping agent, Ambyth Shipping, to arrange for an air ambulance rescue flight.

Ambyth then called Macaw Helicopters, which is Micronesia’s first and only federally approved air ambulance operator.

“What we had was a Liberian registered ship in international waters with an Italian crew member needing treatment”, said Ed Stephens, Jr., vice president of Macaw.

Stephens praised the NMI government for a quick reaction during this weekend emergency. “The Customs service, Department of Labor and Immigration and the Department of Public Health all did an excellent job of getting things arranged in advance of the patient’s arrival. This was, after all, an international flight”.

While government officials arranged for the necessary approvals, the R/V Joides Resolution continued heading towards Saipan. The ship wouldn’t be within the copter range until Sunday. “We agreed on a rendezvous point at 16 degrees north latitude, and 145 degrees, 10 minutes east longitude, for 3 p.m. Sunday. That would put the ship about 120 miles west-northwest of Saipan. We planned the flight so that the ship and the helicopter arrived on-station at exactly the same time. This enabled us to accomplish the mission as quickly as possible”.

Macaw’s air ambulance JetRanger helicopter is equipped with satellite navigation equipment, which the pilot used to fly directly to the pre-arranged coordinates. The R/V Joides Resolution is equipped with a helicopter landing pad, and Macaw pilot and president Mike Cunningham landed the copter aboard the ship at 3 p.m. Sunday.

“We do a lot of air ambulance work”, said Cunningham, “and this isn’t the first time we’ve operated from a ship”.

After the patient was loaded onto the helicopter, Cunningham flew the copter back to Saipan and landed directly at the CHC’s helicopter pad at 4:42 p.m. Within moments the patient was receiving treatment in the emergency room.

Over the past few months, Macaw has flown air ambulance to Tinian, Rota, Alamagan, and Agrihan islands. The air ambulance helicopter is a life-line for island residents.

“The air ambulance program is highly successful”, said Stephens. “Our team effort with the Commonwealth Health Center is paying off and we’re saving lives”.