A rescue operation was carried out on Nun Kun mountain, located near the Kargil region of Ladakh.
Indian Army aviation pilots conducted a rescue operation on Saturday at Nun-Kun Mountain, located near the Kargil region of Ladakh, and safely evacuated a patient.
The rescue mission was extremely challenging amid strong winds and very difficult mountainous terrain at an altitude of 18,600 feet. There was no conventional landing space for the helicopter on the steep slope.
The pilots kept the helicopter steady at an extremely low altitude. They then rested just one skid of the helicopter against the slope and maintained its balance. The patient was subsequently airlifted.
See in the long shot how the patient was airlifted.
Heavy equipment was removed from the helicopter before the rescue operation
At an altitude of 18,600 feet, the reduced air pressure decreases engine performance and the lift generated by the rotor. To take off under these conditions, all non-essential equipment was removed from the helicopter.
Only a limited amount of fuel was carried in the helicopter to increase its lift capacity. At the same time, enough fuel was retained to cover the distance necessary to complete the patient evacuation mission.
What is a helicopter skid?
The two long, strip-like supports attached beneath a helicopter are called skids. They function like wheels and help the helicopter land and remain stationary on the ground.
What is a one-skid landing?
For rescue operations, the helicopter is balanced by resting just one skid on the ground or slope. – File photo
When a helicopter cannot find level ground and the available space is very limited or sloped, the pilot cannot land it in the usual manner. In such a situation, the pilot balances the helicopter by resting just one skid on the ground or slope. This is called a one-skid landing.
This technique is used especially in mountainous areas during rescue operations, to evacuate injured people or patients, and to transport people to and from inaccessible locations.
