Precision Lift's logistical load transport Heli-Basket proved to be an
indispensable asset in the execution of missions in Panama," states
Captain Joseph Roughneen, Detachment Commander with the New Jersey Army
National Guard. Roughneen's detachment from New Jersey's 1/150th GSAB
deployed to Panama in support of a New Horizons Exercise for the first
five months of the year. Casualty Evacuation was their primary task, but
Blackhawk UH-60 lift support to New Horizons was included as well.
The New Horizons mission included Medical Readiness Training Exercises
(MEDRETE) where doctors, nurses, and other health care providers treated
thousands of host nation patients. The remote locations of villages and
the need for expediency in supply delivery made the logistical load
transport characteristics of the Heli-Basket invaluable.
The Heli-Basket, a logistical load transport cage, eliminates most of
the challenges connected with traditional sling loads. The aerodynamic
system allows pilots to transport loads without spinning and swaying while
at the same time protecting cargo from the traditional bumps, load damage,
entanglements and human rigging errors.
"We want the Heli-Basket to be included on all future deployments."
Captain Roughneen elaborates, "The nature of the Heli-Basket
reclassified the external loads, thereby relieving the ground unit of
having to certify the loads. This is an extremely significant time saver
that enhances the entire logistics process. Standardization Pilot CW4
James den Hartog and Crew Chief SSG Frederick Derry of the New Jersey Army
National Guard were the operators in charge of putting the Heli-Basket
into action. Also instrumental was Standardization Pilot Bruce Johnston of
the Delaware Army National Guard."
With Department of Defense (DOD) Certification issued about a month
after the New Horizons Mission, the Heli-Basket is now approved for use
throughout the military. Issuance of the Certification for this innovative
sling load device is a historical first. Exemplified by the successful air
lifts of the New Horizons Mission in Panama, the newly certified
Heli-Basket can revolutionize the way goods, machinery, medical supplies,
and fragile equipment are moved via helicopter. Prior to the invention of
the Heli-Basket, sling load transport missions were often inefficient and
troublesome.
Roughneen hits home on this point, "While in Panama, the 1/150th
Detachment received an official tasking to support a US State Department
Mission near the Colombian border. Inhabitants of a village fled an attack
by right wing guerrillas. More than 500 refugees led the Panamanian
Government to declare a state of emergency and ask for US assistance."
"The Heli-Basket proved to be an indispensable asset in the execution
of our lift missions in Panama."
Ironically, this crucial transport challenge could not be eased with
the Heli-Basket. Roughneen lamented, "The Certification for the
Heli-Basket was nearing issuance but not yet released. Without a certified
Heli-Basket at our disposal, our Blackhawks were forced to daisy chain
more than 16,000 pounds of food and medical relief supplies to the
village. We were forced to internally load all of the supplies as well as
rig an external of 2.5 ton tires. Wasted rigging times, slower transport
speeds, and the usual frustrations of non-aerodynamic loads, increased
ground issues and loiter, and other logistical challenges could have been
avoided had the same mission occurred a month later with the certified
Heli-Basket."
"Because of its aerodynamic flight characteristics, the Heli-Basket
would have also allowed flight speed of up to 110 knots--significantly
reducing the transport and therefore the mission time line. Now that the
Certification has been issued, I'm hoping the Heli-Basket becomes a
primary tool of logistical load transport," adds Roughneen, "In fact, We
look forward to using our Heli-Baskets during our scheduled rotation in
Kosovo in January of 2005."
Captain Roughneen sees the Heli-Basket as a solution to a score of
previously unresolved sling load challenges. He states that, "Whether
moving medical supplies or engineering equipment, the Heli-Basket proved
to be a relevant, reliable, and durable tool throughout the New Horizon's
Exercise. So much so, that we have added this innovative transport device
to our Blackhawk UH-60 mission packing list. We want the Heli-Basket to be
included on all future deployments."
John Tollenaere, cofounder and Vice President of Precision Lift,
comments from his Walhalla, South Carolina office, "With this
certification complete, our Heli-Basket transport system is now sanctioned
for use throughout the entire military. We are pleased with this unique
certification process. We've delivered Heli-Basket systems to Air and Army
National Guard facilities in every state in the Union, and this final
stamp of approval releases them for use throughout our nation's entire
defense system. The Heli-Basket performed virtually flawlessly, and the
certification film graphically demonstrates that."
"The Heli-Basket performed virtually flawlessly, and the certification
film graphically demonstrates that."
The timing of this approval is especially important to PLI’s products
designed for other applications such as wildland firefighting,
decontamination, and washing of aircraft. Precision Lift is currently
delivering their new Heli-Basket Fire Suppression Modules to Army and Air
National Guard facilities from Alaska to the Virgin Islands. The FA 400
Fire Suppression Module is a revolutionary new way of dealing with the
take down of small fires and the mop-up phase of any fire. Equipped with a
multi-outlet manifold and 400 gallon water tank, this pumper unit can be
transported via helicopter and utilized on a fire that might be miles from
the nearest source of water.
"Logistical challenges could have been avoided had the same mission
occurred a month later with the certified Heli-Basket."
Similarly, PLI’s Heli-Basket DWFD (Decon/Wash/Fire/De-ice) Module
provides a new and innovative method of cleaning aircraft in the field.
Aircraft cleaning is a massive and sometimes overwhelming challenge in
desert environments like Iraq. Removing the abrasive sands and corrosive
sea salts from weather beaten equipment and aircraft is next to impossible
in some field locations. PLI's new module system resolves logistical
cleaning problems by providing water, detergent, foam, water pressure, and
a useful assortment of nozzles to get the job done.
The mobility and versatility of the DWFD module provides a new tool for
infield decontamination situations. The module can dispense a variety of
decontamination agents to quickly mitigate the harmful effects of chemical
and biological agents.
