Kevin_Runolfson Posted May 30, 2003 Share Posted May 30, 2003 Anyone know more info on this one? Do they have to pay a portion of the cost for apparent stupidity? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hiromi Posted May 30, 2003 Share Posted May 30, 2003 Isn't it primarily volunteers that rescue lost hikers? Must have been a slow news day with all the press coverage that one got! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sobo Posted May 30, 2003 Share Posted May 30, 2003 Yes, and yes. I think it got more coverage than usual because there was a chopper involved. Rotary wing aircraft yanking folks off a hill always looks good on the 6:00 news. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin_Runolfson Posted May 30, 2003 Author Share Posted May 30, 2003 A helicopter costs a ton of money. Even if all the ground guys were volunteers, a helicoter runs in the hundreds of dollars per flight hour to operate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sobo Posted May 30, 2003 Share Posted May 30, 2003 I'm aware of that. But it's also a fact, at least with Central Washington Mountain Rescue, that when we call in MAST, it's free to the subject. Your tax $$$ are what keeps it in the air. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpinfox Posted May 30, 2003 Share Posted May 30, 2003 Helicopters are often military which use civilian rescues as practice for extracting downed pilots etc... They consider it part of their training exercises for wartime operations. It doesn't cost any more (except fuel) than it would cost us taxpayers if the helicopter was just sitting on the ground. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freeman Posted May 30, 2003 Share Posted May 30, 2003 CCMRA did a little mission last night with the County's helicopter and a contract pilot. County picks up the bill - volunteers give their time from work. When we call in the military its a training mission - your tax dollars cover it. When we call in an air ambulance the victim is billed, just as she would be with a ground ambulance. Thats the way its always been Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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