Indonesia: January 1, 2005

Archives

  A dozen U.S. Navy Seahawk helicopters began flying relief missions off Aceh. The Seahawk is the navy version of the UH-60 Blackhawk, and can stay in the air about two hours per sortie, carrying two tons of cargo, or a dozen or so people. The U.S. Navy helicopters quickly proved to be critical, because roads and airfields all along the coast were destroyed by the earthquake and tidal waves. So the only way to get food into devastated villages, and badly injured people out, is via helicopters. Indonesian armed forces helicopters do not have any undamaged bases in Aceh, so the American carriers, operating from a carrier offshore, provides crucial transport. An American amphibious carrier is approaching Indonesia, carrying heavier helicopters. The navy and marine helicopters can fly 4-5 sorties a day, although this puts the maintenance crews on 12 hour shifts to keep the choppers flyable. 

 

Article Archive

Indonesia: Current 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 


X

ad
0
20

Help Keep Us Soaring

We need your help! Our subscription base has slowly been dwindling. We need your help in reversing that trend. We would like to add 20 new subscribers this month.

Each month we count on your subscriptions or contributions. You can support us in the following ways:

  1. Make sure you spread the word about us. Two ways to do that are to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
  2. Subscribe to our daily newsletter. We’ll send the news to your email box, and you don’t have to come to the site unless you want to read columns or see photos.
  3. You can contribute to the health of StrategyPage. A contribution is not a donation that you can deduct at tax time, but a form of crowdfunding. We store none of your information when you contribute..
Subscribe   Contribute   Close