Cleared to Land!
The safety light next to the helipad turned from green to red and the HH-60G from the 129th Rescue Wing based at Moffett Field, CA circled in a tight left hand orbit overhead. JOLLY 96 and her crew were checking the landing zone for any signs of wires, poles, people or anything that would keep them from landing on the Regional Medical Center of San Jose’s HeliPad.
One last tight turn and the two safety observers looking down from the side windows cleared the pilot to begin his descent down to the hospital with scores of doctors and nurses watching the Pave Hawk rotor wash throw leaves and dirt all around.
20 feet, winds light coming in from the North, 15 feet….10….5….3…2…1…touchdown!
Had there been an actual patient on board fighting for his or her life, they would have been immediately transfered to the nearby Emergency Room. But today, the crew of JOLLY 96 were on hand to celebrate the opening of the only heliport in the Bay Area certified to be able to land the 22,000 pound HH-60G helicopter. While the Pave Hawk has transported sick patients to Stanford Hospital in the past, over there they are forced to land in the parking lots or grass fields delaying medical treatment.
This opportunity gave the Doctors, Nurses, and other staff of the Regional Medical Center to get an up close look at the center piece of the 129th RQW and familiarize themselves with this valuable life saving tool as well as speak to the pilots and aircrew who are trained to provide emergency trauma and field medical care.
While the primary mission of the HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter is to conduct day or night combat search and rescue (CSAR), when not deployed these brave crews support civil search and rescue, emergency aeromedical evacuation, disaster relief, international aid, counterdrug activities, special operations, and NASA space shuttle support.
So while there were other helicopters attending the open ceremonies, such as the US Coast Guard HH-65B Dauphin shown below, the Pave Hawk was the real star!
They garnered all the news attention too! Here is FOX Channel 2 interviewing Capt Weidman and KRON Channel 4 interviewing 2nd Lt Tristan.
Everyone wanted their picture taken with the Pave Hawk. 
From L to R - Lt Col Steve Butow, William Gilbert (CEO of Regional Medical Center of San Jose), Russell Hancock (President of Joint Venture Silicon Valley Network and leader of the
Silicon Valley Disaster Preparedness Tiger Team), and Bruce Lee (the Director of the Emergency Medical Services Agency for Santa Clara County).
A special thanks to Capt Alyson Teeter for the heads up and allowing to spend my lunch with the men and women of the 129th RQW.
June 10th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
What was it Jolly 96 or Jolly 18? I think you need a new note book.
Good job. Sorry you missed the Calstar NOTAR.
June 11th, 2008 at 7:21 pm
The call sign was Jolly 96. 18 is the tail number.
June 16th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
you are such a lucky dude sagar!