"Any Mission, Any Time, Any Where."
For over 50 years, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Air Rescue
program has provided life saving services to the citizens of Los
Angeles County, neighboring counties, as well as at large scale state and national incidents. Los Angeles County's Air Rescue program began in 1955 with the acquisition and usage Korean War era Bell 47 helicopters equipped with skid-mounted litters. In 1970, patients were able to be transported inside the aircraft instead of on the skids, when the first Hughes 500 helicopter
was put into service. In 1972, the program's capabilities were expanded with the purchase of three hoist-equipped surplus
CH-34 Sikorsky helicopters. The designator
"Air Rescue 5," was added with the addition of these hoist capable helicopters. The Air Rescue 5 program entered the turbine era with the acquisition of two
Sikorsky S. 58T helicopters in 1983.
Seventeen years later, the S-58Ts were replaced with three Sikorsky
SH-3 Sea Kings, which were refurbished and outfitted with enhanced Medevac
suites and rescue hoists.
Awards and Recognition
The
Air Rescue 5 program has received recognition from Sergei Sikorsky by the Professional
Helicopter Pilots Association, for the
Department’s Swift Water Rescue Program. They have also, received the
Higgins-Langley Award for Swift Water Rescues and the Heroism Award
presented by Rotor & Wing Magazine.
The men and
women of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Air Rescue 5
Program have remained committed to their leadership role and
resourcefulness in the use of rotor crafts for public safety services.
Air Rescue 5 remains instrumental in the evolution of air rescue and in
the adaptation of air services in law enforcement. With more than five
decades of life-saving rescues, successful searches, evacuations of lost
persons, countless law enforcement missions, and an impeccable safety
record, we salute the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Air
Rescue 5 Program. Sheriff Lee Baca
The Air
Rescue 5 program embodies Los Angeles County's commitment to the safety
and well-being of its citizens and demonstrates the use of rotorcraft in
outstanding public safety services. Whether it be a technical rescue in
the rugged San Gabriel Mountains, a swift water rescue in a raging
flood control channel, or medical transport from Santa Catalina Island,
the members of Air Rescue 5proudly stand behind their motto, "Any
mission. Anytime. Anywhere."
One of three new Eurocopter
AS 332L1 Super Puma helicopters now used by Air Rescue 5.
The "Super Pumas" are employed primarily as rescue aircraft, but they are also equipped and well suited for Law Enforcement , Homeland
Security support, maritime missions, and personnel transport during
natural disasters. The Super Pumas are equipped with external hoists, nose-mounted forward-looking infrared
cameras, night-vision
compatible cockpits, and multi-patient medical interiors. For safety, these helicopters will be equipped with Enhanced Ground
Proximity Warning System / Terrain Awareness and Warning System
( EGPWS / TAWS ). The cockpits of these Super Pumas are also be equipped
with GPS, instrument flight rules (IFR) capability and weather radar.
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| "Air 5" on the Angeles Crest Highway near Dawson Saddle. |
