Anvis-9 Generation 3 Night Vision Goggles

Many of our search and rescue (SAR) missions occur during nighttime operations.  All crew members are fitted with night vision capability during all mission types.  Click here to learn more about our night vision capabilities.

Spectrolab SX-5 Starburst® Searchlight

STAR Flight pilots direct this 20 million candle power search light to provide enhanced visibility during NVG-aided SAR, Law, and Medical missions. 

STAR Flight crews use this satellite tracking and digital mapping system during SAR, Law, Aerial Fire Suppression and Reconnaissance and Medical Missions.  The system allows the crew members to establish hasty and grid search pattern perimeters, estimate acreage of wildfires and communicate suspect location to Law Enforcement.  Sky Connect allows provides the aircraft with satellite tracking and emergency warning notification to our Air Coordination Specialists and enhanced communication via satellite phone capability.

EC-145 Deployment/Extraction Equipment

Goodrich® External Electric Rescue Hoist

This device is used to place a rescuer in a specific location and to extract our rescuers and victims during rescue operations.  It is due to put into service April 2007.

Blackhawk! Tactical Rappel Rope Bag

This bag will be affixed to the rescuer's leg while in-flight to a land rescue mission.  It contains 120 feet of static 1/2" KM rescue rope to be used for the rappel and any technical rescue needs once on the ground. Click here for rescue definitions. 

CMC Rescue Lifeline 1/2" Static Rope

Utilized for rappel's and land-based technical rescue missions.  Click here to learn more about our rescue mission profile.

CMC Bauman Bag

This extraction device is used to secure an injured victim during short haul and hoist land rescue operations.  Click here to see more pictures of our rescue operations.

LSC Water Rescue Litter

Similar to the Bauman Bag, this is a flotation/extraction device that is specifically designed to secure an injured victim during short haul and hoist water rescue operations.  With the LSC Litter, we are able to safely secure victims to a load-rated floating backboard while maintaining cervical spine protection.  This device is intended for still-water operations only.

CMC Rescue Short Haul Line

This 75 ft. 7/16" 14,000lbs rated rescue rope is used during short haul operations.  It is attached to the cargo hook system located on the belly of the aircraft and is deployed by the crew chief from inside the cabin.  With the introduction of this specially-designed lightweight rope, STAR Flight has moved to a single line deployment system.

CMC Cinch Collar

This extraction device is used by our rescue swimmers to rapidly secure and extract victims from any number of environments or situations.  It is quickly placed over the victim's shoulders and under their arms, cinched tightly around their chest and attached directly to the short haul line or hoist cable.  Click here to learn more about our rescue mission profile.

This extraction device is used by our rescue swimmers to rapidly secure and extract victims from any number of environments or situations.  It is quickly placed over the victim's shoulders and under their arms, cinched tightly around their chest and attached directly to the short haul line or hoist cable.

PMI Hasty Harness

This extraction device is used to secure victims from various land based environments and situations.  It is used when the victim requires extraction, but the situation is not immediately life-threatening and no spinal injuries are suspected. 

CMC ProSeries Auto-Locking D Aluminum/Steel Carabiners

These carabiners are standard use on all of our rescue equipment and used for securing all life-safety devices to securing straps and or short haul lines/hoist cables. 

SEI Industries Bambi Bucket®

The Bambi Bucket® allows STAR Flight to assist in wildland fire suppression.  The bucket attaches to the cargo hook system mounted to the belly of the aircraft and is then flown to a nearby water source.  Since we are able to fill the bucket in as little 3 feet of water, finding a water source is usually not a issue.  After the bucket is lowered into the water source and is full, it is flown over active burn areas where communication between the crew chief and pilot result is direct drops of water to the tune of 145 gallons each.  To learn more about fire suppression missions, click here.

Rescuer Protection

Zephyr International Hoist Support Equipment such as hoist cable magnetic inspection system (MagSens™), mobile ground support equipment, AxelCut™ and QuickSplice™  provide us with superior cable protection and safety.

Gentex SPH-5 Helicopter Helmet

The SPH-5 is worn by all crew members during flight operations.  The only exception is during water rescue missions, when the rescue swimmer will be wearing appropriate head protection specific for that mission. 

Pro-Tec Ace Water Rescue Helmet

This helmet is worn by our rescue swimmers during still or swift water rescue missions.  Click here to see our rescue swimmers in action!

This modular survival vest with integrated full-body harness and flotation is used by our crew members for daily operations including medical, fire suppression and land rescue missions.  It can be used for rappel, short haul or direct hoist operations and provides the crew member with superior gear carrying ability and comfort. 

LSC Tri SAR Rescue Swimmer Vest and Harness

This full body class 3 rescue harness with integrated vest and flotation is worn by our rescue swimmers during flat water rescue missions.  During swift water rescue missions, the harness may be worn with the flotation and vest removed to allow for a PFD to be worn.

 Force 6 Safety Products Inc. Swift Water Rescue PFD

This personal flotation device (PFD) is worn by our rescue swimmers during swift water rescue operations.  It provides many elements including superior flotation ideally suited for this specific hazardous environment.  Click here for a swift water survival story!

Mustang® MSD575 Dry Suit

This suit made from Kevlar and extremely durable nylon is worn by our rescue swimmers during swift and cold water rescue missions.  It provides a great deal of abrasion and thermal protection for our rescuers.  It is also utilized heavily in flood operations due to it contaminant protection.

O'NEILL Reactor S/S Rescue Swimmer Wet Suit

Worn by our rescue swimmers during flat water rescue operations during warm weather months, this wet suit provides some thermal protection but yields a great deal of mobility during operations. 

MASSIF Nomex® Inferno Fleece Jacket

Made of the same fire resistant material as our flight suits, this cold weather coat provides our crew members thermal and fire protection during all aspects of our operation.

MASSIF Nomex® Cool Knit Under Shirt

Regulation of body temperature during a typical Central Texas summer has always been a high priority of our crew members.  These Cool Nit under shirts are light weight and soft with wicking properties to help keep our crew members cool when the heat is on.  They are also made from the same fire resistant material as our flight suits, so they provide an additional layer of protection from fire.

MASSIF Nomex® Hot Johns

Regulation of body temperature during a still Central Texas fall or winter is of high priority to our crew members.  These Hot Johns under shirts and pants are standard issue for rescue swimmers to wear under their dry suits or for all crew members to wear during normal cold weather operations.  They are also made from the same fire resistant material as our flight suits, so they provide an additional layer of protection from fire.

Worn by our crew members during all standard and non-water rescue operations, this boot provides excellent traction, ankle/foot protection, and thermal protection. 

Deep See AMPHIB Rescue Swimmer Boot

Worn by our rescue swimmers during all water rescue operations, this boot provides excellent traction, ankle/foot protection, and thermal protection.  It is designed to be compatible with the US Divers Shredder Fins.

US Divers Rescue Swimmer SAR Shredder Fins

These fins are worn by our rescue swimmers during flat water and some swift water rescue missions.  They are designed to provide controlled propulsion for short distances and because of their short fin length and boot-like traction sole they are less difficult to wear during on-shore operations.

Crew members are all issued standard Nomex® flight gloves to wear during flight operations for thermal protection from fire and the enviornent.

Neoprene Water Gloves

Our rescue swimmers utilize a variety of thermal protection water gloves during water rescue missions. 

LSC Dive Mask and J-type Snorkel

During water rescue missions, our rescue swimmers utilize variety of dive masks and snorkels giving them the ability to see and breath during patient securing, periods of down wash, and swift water.

Helicopter Emergency Escape Device or H.E.E.D Bottle

This device is carried by our crew members during over water operations including fire suppression, flat and swift water, or other appropriate operations.  The H.E.E.D bottle provides the crew member with approximately 2-3 minutes of under water breathing time in the event of an inadvertent water landing giving the crew member additional escape time.  Click here to see a local news story on our under water escape training. 

CMC Rescue ATR Strap

This safety device is used by our crew chiefs during rescue and fire operations to allow them maneuverability both inside and outside the aircraft while keeping them secured to a hard point inside the cabin.

CMC ProSeries Pick Off Strap

This safety device is used by our rescuers during pre and post deployment phases of rescue operations to allow them maneuverability both inside and outside the aircraft while keeping them secured to a hard point inside the cabin. 

Motorola XTS Portable Radio- SF Rescuer Radio

This water-proof version of Motorola's Public Safety portable radio system is deployed with our rescuers during all rescue operations.  It is programmed with a direct UHF that is monitored by the crew chief onboard the aircraft.  This direct communication capability allows the rescuer and crew chief to communicate during operations on a system that is isolated from main incident operation channels.

Savox® C-C500 Multi-Purpose Remote Speaker Mic

This water-proof speaker/mic system is deployed with our rescuers during all rescue operations.  It is deployed with our rescue swimmers on all water operations and connects directly to the Motorola UHF radio.  This direct communication capability allows the rescue swimmer and crew chief to communicate during operations on a system that is isolated from main incident operation channels.

SavoxÒ TM/TC Throat Microphone Speaker Unity

This water-proof throat mic is deployed with our rescuer swimmers during all water operations.  It is connected to the Motorola radio via the Savox C-C500.  This direct communication capability allows the rescue swimmer and crew chief to communicate during operations on a system that is isolated from main incident operation channels.

Emergency Signal Strobe

This NVG compatible Strobe light is used by crew members to communicate an emergency situation during a rescue operation or to signal their location  to search aircraft during post-accident operations.  Click here to learn more about STAR Flight crew member survival training.

Chem Sticks

Communication is imperative during all aviation operations.  Our crew members utilize standard hand signaling during rescue operations to communicate between crew chief and rescuer.  Chem sticks provide easier low light communication of those hand signals and assist in marking victim and other locations of interest during SAR operations.  Click here to see crew chief Dave Krussow unleash "Chem-Stick Fury" during a rescue swimmer deployment!

Pelican™ StealthLite™ 2400

Our rescue swimmers are all outfitted with this durable and submersible flashlight to enhance their visibility during water rescue operations.

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