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Technology: California Highway Patrol search and rescue helicopter equipped with Recco SAR detector
The California Highway Patrol’s Valley Division Air Operations has become the sixth US search and rescue (SAR) unit to equip its helicopters with the Recco SAR detector. This detector is carried aloft via external sling and can find lost/injured persons who are wearing clothing or other items fitted with Recco reflectors, lightweight passive transponders that consist of a diode and antenna requiring no power or activation to function. The Recco SAR Helicopter Detector can quickly search large areas, covering one square kilometre within six minutes. Besides shortening search time, the helicopter-based detector can reduce the time and the exposure to risk for rescue workers during search missions.
Reflectors are integrated into products from more than 150 sports and outdoor brands, including jackets, pants, helmets, backpacks, back protectors, boots, transceivers, watches and harnesses. Also available as single products, the transponder can be added to other branded helmets and backpacks and are included in Recco branded belts. The reflectors are designed to last indefinitely barring mechanical damage and can be detected with a hand-held unit that has a range up to 263 feet through the air and 66 feet through packed snow, which results in a practical range of 98 metres on avalanche debris, according to the company. Many search and rescue teams in California are equipped with handheld Recco detectors for avalanche rescue and searching for missing people but this is the first time the Recco SAR Helicopter Detector system is operational in the State. “It is a real milestone to be operational with the Recco SAR Helicopter Detector System in the State of California. To have such an experienced organisation as the California Highway Patrol on board is an honour and we look forward to working with them to improve search and rescue techniques in the outdoors,” said Fredrik Steinwall, CEO at Recco. Recco SAR helicopter detectors are in use by 27 SAR units worldwide; nine in North America and 18 in Europe. Recent customers include Teton County, Wyoming Search and Rescue; Canada’s Vernon Search and Rescue and Italy’s mountain rescue service, the Corpo Nazionale Soccorso Alpino e Speleologico or CNSAS. Source: AIN Online |
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