Aug. 14, 2017 —
A man in a disabled sailboat waves his arm for help in Pamlico Sound, North Carolina, as the first Coast Guard aircraft outfitted with the Minotaur mission system suite passes overhead to help rescue him Aug. 7, 2017. The view shows the sailboat image from the HC-130J Super Hercules’ Minotaur-integrated sensors overlaid with other data, as seen on the mission system operator workstation. The HC-130J aircrew provided the vessel’s location and other data to an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew, who took the man to the hospital. U.S. Coast Guard graphic.
The first Coast Guard aircraft outfitted with the Minotaur mission system suite – CGNR 2003, an HC-130J long range surveillance aircraft based at Air Station Elizabeth City, North Carolina – conducted its first operational search and rescue mission Aug. 7.
The Minotaur mission system suite integrates multiple sensor data streams and easily tracks detected targets, sending improved information to other platforms and units. CGNR 2003 is currently used to train new mission system operators and build familiarization with the system.
After receiving news of a distress signal from Sector Hampton Roads, Virginia, during a routine training flight, the aircraft located the sailboat in Pamlico Sound, North Carolina, and used its sensors to determine that the vessel was disabled. The HC-130J transmitted vessel location information to the MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter launched by Air Station Elizabeth City, North Carolina, so it could transport the sailor to the nearest hospital.
For video of the rescue, as recorded from the aircraft’s mission system operator Minotaur workstation, click here.
For more information: HC-130J Long Range Surveillance Aircraft Program page