helicopter down in bolivia

[105viking]

got the news this morning that an acquaintance of mine crashed while ferrying an a-star 350 from bolivia. details are few, but it appears that he survived the crash and was able to make a sat-phone call to somebody. he is stuck in the amazon with two broken legs.

for those of you who are religious, please pray that he is able to survive until he is rescued.

my question is this:

when an american citizen is missing in an episode like this, who looks for them?

i can't really think of a more scary place to be lost, and injured.

regards,
105viking

 

[Vladimir Lenin]

where was he ferrying too?
what's the range on that thing?
over Bolivian jungle (insurgents) in a slow flying helicopter ?
wouldn't it be cheaper/safer/smarter to box it and ship it via transport?

 

[flint4xx]

If a Bolivian crashed in the US, we would look for him. What makes you think they won't do the same?

 

[avbug]

In that corner of the world, the truth is that often no one looks for that person. Often it all depends who is willing to foot the bill to pay someone to look for that person. People disappear in the jungle.

Otherwise, when it's in the political interests of the governing body, it's usually the military. Thiers, not ours. Our own involvement will depend on the interests of the country at the time. Looking out for our own citizens is always in our interest, but sometimes the political climate negates or outweighs that interest.

In this case, the firm for whom the helicopter was being moved should most likely foot the bill. Typically that would be the insurance...though doubtful that your friend wants to wait for it.

He's going to get picked up. Let your prayers be that it's the right party that picks him up.

 

[Toy Soldier]

He was a friend of mine as well.. We just got news that he and his mechanic were both killed.

His original satellite phone call said that he had broken legs and couldn't see the tops of the jungle trees. He also stated that he thought that he was alright otherwise. However, he was dead when they found him.

He had bought the AS350 and was bringing it home.

He was a great guy

 

[avbug]

Sorry to hear it. Especially tough when he was that close, and you already had the hope of hearing from him. My condolences.

 

[bart]

The CP where I fly knew the guy as well and told me about it. Seems he had some internal injuries and was in shock when he made the call.

Prayers to his friends and family.

 

[Toy Soldier]

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/1203/11pilot.html

Here is the link to an article.

We will miss him greatly. He was an awesome guy...

 

[ShawnC]

But it got dark before rescuers could take off. They were not able to leave until sunrise the next day to make the 1 1/2-hour trip to the site of the crash

Looks like the BAF needs some training in night operations, then they might have gotten there in time.

 

[avbug]

How do YOU feel about night low level work in a very non-radar environment in terrain, with thunderstorms, in a third world country?

Don't be so quick to judge. There is no flight which must be made.

 

[ShawnC]

How do YOU feel about night low level work in a very non-radar environment in terrain, with thunderstorms, in a third world country?

Don't be so quick to judge. There is no flight which must be made.

That is true, but if the Coasties flew like that there would be alot more dead in the Gulf.

 

[avbug]

Not a whole lot of mountains out there off the coast. There's a big difference between being funded by the United States, and drawing training and equipment funds from a country with the GNP of Bolivia. Don't be so quick to judge, until you've flown in such places and have seen what they have to work with.

Would you make that night flight under the conditions described?

 

[flint4xx]

The rescue aircraft, helicopters in Trinidad, Bolivia, that are normally used in drug enforcement, were flown by the Bolivian air force and coordinated by embassy officials.

...as I said earlier.

Sounds like an interesting and liked individual. Rest in Peace.