Quintessential Kodiak: A complex, long-distance Arctic rescue

On August 26, 2023, United States Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak completed the medical evacuation of a man from a fishing vessel in the Bering Sea, more than 200 nautical miles northwest of St. Paul Island, Alaska. The rescue required an H-60 helicopter, a C-130 plane, crew and backup crew for each aircraft, plus a self-rescue H-60 crew and helicopter. The harsh Alaska environment brought extra complexities which included planned and unplanned refueling stops; adding a cold-weather kit of fuel additives, plugs and tie-downs; avoiding the cloud of ash from the eruption of Mount Shishaldin, and coping with low visibility from heavy fog. When all assets finally returned home, the air station crews had accumulated 29.4 flight hours, covering more than 1,400 nautical miles across four locations in just three days under the most challenging of conditions.

• Record URL:
  • https://www.dco.uscg.mil/Portals/9/DCO%20Documents/Proceedings%20Magazine/Archive/2025/USCG_proceedings-magazine_vol82-no3-fall2025_WEB.pdf
• Authors:
  • Gever, Caitlyn
• Publication Date: 2025

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Photos;
• Pagination: pp 28-31
• Serial:
  • Coast Guard Journal of Safety & Security at Sea, Proceedings of the Marine Safety & Security Council
  • Volume: 82
  • Issue Number: 3
  • Publisher: U.S. Coast Guard
  • Serial URL: http://www.uscg.mil/proceedings/

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Evacuation; Medical trips; Military aircraft; Military personnel; Search and rescue operations; Weather conditions
• Identifier Terms: United States Coast Guard
• Geographic Terms: Bering Sea; Kodiak (Alaska)
• Subject Areas: Aviation; Environment; Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01978536
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Feb 3 2026 10:07AM