THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, July 17, 1996 TAG: 9607170359
SECTION: MILITARY NEWS PAGE: A12 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ALVA CHOPP, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: 78 lines
A small plaque hangs on a hangar wall at the Elizabeth City Coast Guard Air Station. Simple in design, it speaks to a unique bond between this Coast Guard unit and members of Canadian Forces Squadron 413, a search and rescue outfit in Greenwood, Newfoundland.
Last month, members of both units officially recognized their ``sister squadron'' status in separate ceremonies. But their exchange of ideas and equipment has been going on since 1993, when a busted airplane part brought the far-flung units together.
``We felt that it was about time to formally recognize what had been going on,'' said Lt. Bill Thompson, the Elizabeth City station's assistant engineering officer.
``It's easier now to phone and ask them for advice, support or to organize and work together accomplishing what we both do.''
The part in question was a compressor aboard a Coast Guard HC-130 Hercules airplane flying off the coast of Newfoundland.
Each year from February to September, a detachment from Elizabeth City routinely flies International Ice Patrol missions, scanning the Atlantic for floating icebergs.
International agreements call upon the Hercules crews to be the airborne eyes of ships traveling the major shipping lanes from Europe to the northeastern United States.
The broken compressor complicated things. With 70 percent of its cabin pressure gone and its heater disabled, the plane could still fly at low altitude, but the 14 crew members would have had to work under extremely cold conditions.
Repairs seemed ages away until a Canadian exchange pilot, hearing of the situation while on duty in Elizabeth City, suggested the crew contact the Canadian search and rescue team.
With that unit's help, the Hercules was back in the air.
Until then, parts headed to Canada from the North Carolina air station moved slower than the Arctic ice pack.
When problems arose, the American crew would call their maintenance workers in Elizabeth City, who would check the supply system locally and ship the part to Canada.
The costly trip began with a one-hour drive to the Norfolk International Airport and included an airline ticket for the courier.
Once in Canada, the part still had to travel from Toronto, Ontario, to the Coast Guard's hangar in St. John's, Newfoundland.
Customs could slow things down further. And in the meantime, the Coast Guard's aircraft - usually in the air on seven-hour patrols - couldn't get crews out over the ice.
The budding relationship between the two units was already trimming repair times when, in December 1994, it blossomed further in the midst of a tragedy.
American and Canadian crews found themselves working together again, attempting to rescue the crew of the 400-foot bulk rice carrier Salvador Allende, which sank 300 miles south of St. John's.
Most of the ship's crew was lost, but the two HC-130 units began to trade evaluations of each other's techniques and found that each had much to teach the other.
Lt. Thompson said the relationship has already shown itself to be a ``considerable cost savings'' and has helped expedite missions.
Last month the two units conducted a Search and Rescue symposium in Elizabeth City, during which they exchanged plaques and uniform patches.
``There's not a daily need, but if there's a maintenance or engineering idea that comes up we may call Greenwood to see how they do it.'' Thompson said.
``And in return, I have no second thoughts about supporting any effort they request, if it's within our limits.' ILLUSTRATION: DREW C. WILSON/
The Virginian-Pilot
Each year from February to September, Lt. Bill Thompson and other
crew members from the Elizabeth City Coast Guard Air Station
routinely fly International Ice Patrol missions, scanning the
Atlantic for icebergs. The group works closely with a Canadian
squadron, sharing ideas and equipment. by CNB