.
NOAA’s helicopters, the Mc-Donnell-Douglas
MD-500 and Bell
212's are extremely versatile aircraft and serve as outstanding platforms
for observation, remote landing site operations, low-level survey work, and
can easily accommodate a variety of scientific packages. They can be flown
at speeds ranging from hover to 120-150 knots. These helicopters have
been called upon to perform a wide variety of missions from Alaska’s frozen
North Slope, to the Eastern Tropical Pacific and the Caribbean. NOAA scientists
and surveyors have used these all-purpose aircraft to tow sophisticated sensors,
assess oil spill damage, provide logistical support for environmental studies,
and conduct coastal erosion, hydrographic, fisheries, and marine mammal surveys.
The MD-500, in coordination with the NOAA ship
David Starr Jordan, supports the National Marine Fisheries Eastern Tropical
Pacific Dolphin abundance surveys four months of the year. The MD-500
and its crew are stationed aboard the ship for the entire project, with
all flight operations beginning and ending at the helicopter pad installed
on the stern of the ship. The aircraft is modified to accommodate
two 5-inch format aerial reconnaissance cameras for this annual project.
The photographs allow the scientists to measure the length of individual
dolphins and count the number of dolphins in the area, which can number
in the thousands. Aerial observations are used to verify
and calibrate the counts made by the scientific observers on the ship.
The MD-500 can accommodate 1 pilot and 3 scientists.
The
Bell 212 is a medium size utility helicopter and has a large cargo area
to accommodate up to 14 passengers or cargo. It can be flown with
the cargo doors open or closed, providing unobstructed vision out the sides
and can be outfitted with extended landing gear to accommodate underslung
equipment.
Both the MD-500 and Bell 212 can be transported on
cargo airplanes for relocation to distant work sites and international
operations.
MD-500 on David Starr Jordan's landing pad |
Bell 212 operations in Alaska |
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