| The U.S. Coast Guard has a long and proud tradition. | | | | has a crew of four. Two pilots, a flight mechanic, and a |
| The motto of the Coast Guard is Semper Paratus, | | | | rescue swimmer. |
| which means Always Ready. The missions of the | | | | The HH-60 Jay Hawk, built by Sikorsky Helicopter, is |
| Coast Guard are varied. They include homeland | | | | the Coast Guard's medium range search and rescue |
| security, law enforcement, search and rescue, marine | | | | helicopter. Like the Dauphin it's able to perform a wide |
| environmental pollution response, national defense, and | | | | variety of missions but unlike the Dauphin it does not |
| maintenance of river, intercoastal and offshore aids to | | | | deploy on Coast Guard Cutters, though it does have |
| navigation. | | | | that capability. The Jay Hawk has a flight endurance |
| In order to complete this array of missions the Coast | | | | of six hours and 30 minutes allowing it to remain at the |
| Guard makes extensive use of aircraft, especially | | | | scene of a rescue or other event for an extended |
| helicopters. If you choose a career as a helicopter pilot | | | | period. The Jay Hawk has a crew of four. Two pilots, |
| in the Coast Guard you'll be able to fly at least one of | | | | a flight mechanic and a rescue swimmer. |
| the three helicopters described below. | | | | The MH-68A Sting Ray, built by Augusta, is the Coast |
| The HH-65 Dauphin, built by Aerospatiale Helicopter | | | | Guard's all weather, short range, armed interdiction |
| Corporation, is the Coast Guard's short-range | | | | helicopter. The primary role of the Sting Ray is |
| recovery rescue helicopter. The HH-65 is used in a | | | | maritime drug interdiction and homeland security. A |
| variety of missions most notably drug interdiction, | | | | special unit within the US Coast Guard called the |
| homeland security patrols, pollution control, search and | | | | Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron (HITRON) flies |
| rescue, law enforcement, resupply, and ice breaking. | | | | the Sting Ray. The HITRON is the only US law |
| The HH-65 can be land based or based on board | | | | enforcement agency trained and authorized to employ |
| Coast Guard cutters. One of the more well known | | | | airborne use of force. HITRON's original mission was to |
| parts of the helicopter is its fenestron tail rotor which is | | | | interdict drug smugglers using high-speed boats known |
| a tail rotor totally enclosed within the fuselage of the | | | | as "go-fasts". Their mission has been expanded to |
| helicopter. This provides a greater margin of safety | | | | include homeland security putting them on the front |
| when on the ground, reduced noise, and less | | | | lines of the war on drugs and the expanding war on |
| vulnerability to foreign object damage. The HH-65 also | | | | terrorism. The MH-68 has a crew of three. Two pilots |
| has a very capable auto pilot that is able to | | | | and a crewman/gunner. |
| automatically make a completely hands off approach | | | | A career flying helicopters for the Coast Guard can |
| to the water and establish a 50ft hover as well as fly | | | | be very exciting and very fulfilling. If you have a strong |
| programmed search patterns which allows the crew | | | | desire to fly and to help others. Consider a career as a |
| to take a more active role in the search. The Dauphin | | | | Coast Guard aviator. |