Dream Medical Evac

[okeytaco]

Just off the Dream yesterday. The day before debark there was an emergency medical evacuation. It was an extremely windy day. It seemed that it took the helicopter 3-4 tries before it was successful. What I'm really curious about was why there was also a fixed wing plane. I saw them approach the ship together and then the fixed wing circled around - quite far away from the ship - but continued to circle for the 30 minutes or so it took until the helicopter flew off. Does anyone know why it accompanied the helicopter?

[kgb46]

I sat outside on Promenade Deck and watched it. Very interesting and a friend who was with me was texting her husband who is in the Navy and he said he had not heard of that being done either. I thought that there was 2 planes.

[chengkp75]

When a rotary wing aircraft has a long over water flight, and/or in marginal conditions (you said it was windy), an escort aircraft will be sent. This aircraft maintains overwatch, and provides another set of eyes and communications if things go sideways for the helo. The fixed wing aircraft can also deploy survival gear (raft) for the flight crew if needed.

[kgb46]

When a rotary wing aircraft has a long over water flight, and/or in marginal conditions (you said it was windy), an escort aircraft will be sent. This aircraft maintains overwatch, and provides another set of eyes and communications if things go sideways for the helo. The fixed wing aircraft can also deploy survival gear (raft) for the flight crew if needed.

Thank you for the information. It was a first time experience for me and honestly I don't want to see it again only because it means some is critically ill. Very interesting to watch though.