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Chinese police in Ashland for helicopter training
2010. 26 February
Members of the Shanghai, China, police force are in Ashland learning the finer points of helicopter search and rescue from Brim Aviation employees. “They’re already helicopter pilots,” Burl Brim said. “We’re teaching them disciplines we do.” Brim Aviation
by Greg Stiles
(mailtribune.com)
When one of the globe's largest police forces needed search and rescue training, Brim Aviation didn't exactly flow off the lips of Shanghai authorities, and an atlas proved handy in finding Southern Oregon.
Thanks to a mutual associate, however, the Ashland helicopter company is now sharing its world-class expertise with eight of Shanghai's finest in preparation for World Expo 2010, which begins in May.
Never mind that Shanghai's population of 20 million is 1,000 times greater than Ashland, that its 45,000-member police force is double Ashland's population and that high-rises are packed together across the city's 20-mile girth.Yet, with the world coming to visit China's central eastern coast at the mouth of the Yangtze River, the city — which is a province unto itself — decided to upgrade its ability to deal with aerial rescues. That's where Brim Aviation came in.
"A guy I knew said, 'You do training, these guys are looking for some help, and I'll put you together,' " said Burl Brim, the Ashland company's president.
A deal was firmed up last September for three months of training in the Western United States, followed by 30 days support by Brim Aviation personnel in China and consulting for the next three years.
Four pilots and four crewmen have been learning the finer points of rappelling, fast-rope pick-ups and short hauls with human external cargo along with first-responder, advanced CPR and first-aid classes.
"They're already helicopter pilots," Brim said. "They're very sharp, educated guys. We're teaching them disciplines we do. Currently, we're working with pilots on vertical reference training, the skill you develop to be able to do rope rescues."
Crewmen are working on resource management, teamwork training and specific rescue techniques.
Brim Aviation, which operates out of the Ashland airport, has a trio of four-seat McDonnell Douglas 500 helicopters and one seven-seat McDonnell Douglas 600.
More than 7,000 people per square mile are packed into Shanghai compared with 65 in Jackson County. Oregon's forests, however, are far thicker and Brim said that's a good starting place for learning the ins and outs of urban search and rescue.
"We do a lot of urban-type work," Brim said. "They have a huge river system through Shanghai, so they do a lot of water rescues and swiftwater training. Still, it's a very similar environment when you're working at altitude in the mountains. The confined areas in trees simulate tall buildings pretty well."
Beyond the Siskiyous and Cascades, Brim's staff is training the Chinese aviators in Portland and Seattle as well as Northern California.
"China is huge country with a lot of rural area there," Brim said. "I'm sure they have traveled throughout their country."
Language is no barrier, he said. "Some of them are very fluent and they've been immersed in English before they got here."
Brim Aviation has trained personnel for more than six years, primarily on a local level. Now the globe is its training field.
"This is a door-opener," Brim said, noting they have multiple contracts with Shanghai. "Initially, the students are here. As soon as they are done here, they will go back and establish mission profiles, patrol techniques and then rescue response right in their own environment."
Reach reporter Greg Stiles at 776-4463 or e-mail business@mailtribune.com.
Source: www.mailtribune.com