Columbia River Bar Pilots Helicopter Operations

Rotorcraft Pro gives an inside look at Brim Aviation's Columbia River Bar Pilots helicopter ops. CRBP uses an AW109SP to hoist ship captains onto ships crossing the dangerous river bar in Astoria, OR. This is part of a written/photo feature in the September 2015 issue of Rotorcraft Pro Magazine.
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[@mikeanderson7182]

I saw this done in Alaska. Amazing and dangerous work.

[@helicopterguy4971]

Thanx for sharing a wonderful video! I don't think anyone will ever be able to capture the true danger when it comes to this type of work! Its for sure not just a "push a button for the hook to go up and down".... Fly safe from South Africa.

[@RotorPro]

Thank you!

[@Cleared_To_Land]

This is brilliant! Great post thanks. I just picked up a job in Australia doing MPT. 20 Years in the military and this is my first Civiie job.. so excited!!

[@helicopterguy4971]

Hi, great to see there are fellow MPS guys out there. Who is the service provider of your MPS program?

[@moronibreitbart6055]

What's especially interesting about this operation, is that they fly IFR without IFR OPSPECS, without an IFR flight plan, and without IFR fuel reserves.

[@RotorPrankster]

You have my attention...

[@CriticalAngle]

Awesome video. Really high quality content here guys. Good job!

[@muldrowe]

Awesome video. I hope to do something like this someday.

[@geezer652]

If this video were 50 minutes long, it would still be to short.

[@heli-crewhgs5285]

I noticed that neither the MD902 nor the A109SP had emergency flotation gear. I guess the weights don't stack up.

[@helicopterguy4971]

I do speak under correction, and somehow do feel I am wrong, however, I suspect it is due to the range of flight out to sea not exceeding "x" amount? So possibly within a certain distance, dependent of the country, you are not required to attach flotation?

[@jillbakke4420]

How can I get a copy of Rotocraft Pro Sep 2015 issue?

[@KonorSacks]

How do you become a hoist operator?

[@RotorPro]

Check this out: priority1airrescue.net/

[@yujm7]

why can't the pilot just control the ship remotely? i'm sure the ships have very sophisticated computer navigation systems

[@ictpilot]

Only Navy and Coast Guard drivers need apply. 😁