Aero-News: Quote of the Day

ANN's Quote of the Day usually derives from current news, though we reserve the right to pick quotes out of history that have a bearing on the day's events and issues.

Sometimes, you'll find them timely and in keeping with the content of the day's news... and sometimes, they'll just be thought-provoking.

Reader suggestions and comments are welcome... and if particularly intriguing, timely, or poignant, may themselves become future Quotes of the Day.

Let us hear from you, folks!

Aero-News Quote of the Day

"We picked up the signal almost as soon as we took off... We were in a very strong Northerly and it only took about 30 minutes to get to the area. We never spotted them in the big seas but as we went past our radio gear indicated they were behind us, and as we turned the guys onboard set of a flare. The 30 foot yacht was being buffeted by seas around four metres high, with the occasional rouge wave coming through as high as six metres. Winds were between 40 and 50 knots (75 and 90 kph).
Using hand signals we quickly established that there were only two of them onboard, they were physically OK and they had no radio communications... We were initially a bit concerned with how the rescue would go without being able to brief them, but they quickly showed us they were extremely competent and knew what they were doing."

Source: Dave Greenberg, one of the amazing Westpac Rescue Helicopter crewman who (regularly) puts himself in harm's way to keep others from peril... and one of the truly great reasons that aviation is of such value to the world around us. Thanks, guys...

FMI: www.lifeflight.org.nz