Province reverses its policy after five years of lobbying by search-and-rescue team.
Backwoods rescues in the dark just became a lot safer for injured hikers and rescue crews alike, according to Mike Danks, the team leader for North Shore Rescue, after the province reversed itself and will now allow nighttime helicopter hoists.
Until Oct. 6, the North Vancouver-based rescue organization could fly after sundown with night-vision goggles, but was not allowed to hoist injured hikers to safety, instead having to land a ground crew nearby or rely on 442 Transport and Rescue Squadron out of Comox to send its large Cormorant helicopter, which is not suited to the treed ravines of the North Shore.
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“It’s a game-changer,” Danks said. “Number one, our people are going to be safer because of it.
“And for the community … we can longline people out, we can have a physician there, we can get you out at night. This is a huge security blanket for the community.”
And not just the North Shore, but regionally as well, because the North Vancouver-based team is the only one in the province with training and Transport Canada approval to fly with night-vision goggles.
North Shore Rescue began lobbying for night flights five years ago, and got provincial approval from Emergency Management B.C., which is part of the Ministry of Public Safety, two years ago to fly with night-vision goggles, but hoisting out victims was not part of the pilot project.
On Friday, a spokesperson said the department is working with North Shore Rescue on details of a night-hoisting trial.
“Should a life-and-death situation arise while the trial is being developed, and where alternate means of rescue may lead to unfavourable outcomes, North Shore Rescue is allowed to undertake night hoisting operations.”
Previously, helicopter pilots would have to set down a rescue team away from stranded victims and the team would then make what could be a treacherous scramble in the dark to injured hikers. Now, they can drop a line and lift the victim out, just like in daytime.
“We’re not going to go out and hoist someone who is not injured. This is going to be for someone who needs immediate evacuation because of their medical condition or there is an imminent threat to their life,” Danks said.
gordmcintyre@postmedia.com
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