The Alaska Air National Guardsmen of the 176th Wing rescued an all-terrain vehicle rider on Saturday near Kahiltna Glacier in the Alaska Range.
In a National Guard press release, a member of the rider’s party used a satellite-communication device to notify the Alaska State Troopers, who requested assistance from the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center. The 176th Wing launched a 210th Rescue Squadron HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter and a 211th Rescue Squadron HC-130J Combat King II fixed-wing aircraft, both of which had pararescuemen on board.
The HC-130 carried out high-altitude weather inspection of the route to make sure the helicopter can safely traverse the mountain passes to the site of the ATV rider rescue.
Upon locating the ATV rider, the helicopter crew landed and the pararescuemen made contact with and loaded the injured individual, transporting the unidentified individual to Providence Alaska Medical Center and released him to medical personnel on site.
Alaska Air National Guard Captain Caleb Kiley, senior mission controller for the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center credited the party for carrying a satellite communication device with them:
“It’s very important to have a SATCOM device when going into the Alaska wilderness. The party having one made for a good and timely outcome for this mission.”
The 210th, 211th, and 212th Rescue Squadrons as well as the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center received credit for one save.