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NEWS
RELEASE 1000 08 September 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Original release date: 04 September 2007
Searchers Hope
for Results on Fossett Effort
Minden, NV. –
Frustrated, but not undaunted, search crews from the Nevada and California Wings
of the all volunteer Civil Air Patrol, the Nevada Army and Air National Guard,
in addition to ground crews from Nevada and California county sheriffs
departments have converged for a sixth day of intensive search effort.
It is believed Fossett could have gone
anywhere in the nearly 17,000 square mile search area during his flight,
originating Monday, Sept. 3, from the Flying M Ranch near Yerington, Nevada.
Ground reports during his takeoff said he flew southbound from the ranch.
Morale at the Minden, Nevada airport
incident command post, where the search efforts are being coordinated remains
high, in no small part based on successful outcomes in past searches that may
have seemed hopeless as days stretched on.
Maximum resources from multiple agencies and
jurisdictions, under a Unified Command structure are still being committed to
the intensive effort. Yesterday, they included: seven single engine Cessna 182
and two Cessna 206 aircraft from the Nevada Wing Civil Air Patrol, 13 of the
same type aircraft, operating out of Bishop, California, from the California
Wing Civil Air Patrol, joined by a G8 AirVan equipped with ARCHER imaging
technology from the Utah Wing Civil Air Patrol, two UH-58 and two Blackhawk
helicopters from the Nevada Army National Guard, one Hughes 500 helicopter, a
sonar-equipped boat searching the waters of Walker Lake from Washoe County
Search and Rescue.
More than 200 ground search personnel have
been combing the rugged hills and four wheel drive tracks and trails in the
search area, thanks to law enforcement from Douglas, Inyo and Mono counties in
California, in addition to teams from Lyon and Mineral counties in Nevada. Also
donating time and resources in Silver State Helicopters of Las Vegas.
Additional figures from yesterdays’ efforts
in Minden included: approximately 24 sorties flown, 23.5 hours spent in grid
search areas and 34 personnel, each averaging a 10 duty period, for 340 man
hours. An aerial search of more than half of the 10,000 square mile search area
has been completed. More than 50 flight hours were flown in yesterday’s effort.
Fossetts’ aircraft, the Citabria Super
Decathalon, built in 1980 and owned by the Flying M Hunting Club, Inc., 10 miles
south of Yerington, Nevada, is a well-known aircraft with a long history. It is
a tandem two seat aircraft capable of aerobatic maneuvers. It was noted by
members of Mr. Fossett’s staff that he was not fond of aerobatics and would not
have been likely to use the aircraft in that manner.
As the search progresses, emphasis has been
taken off of the playas and dry lakebeds that Mr. Fossett was earlier reported
to have been scouting in preparation for a land speed record attempt. The focus
in now on going back to get a better look at search grids that, on Monday with
high winds and turbulence, prevented searchers from getting a close look.
Search planners also want to go back over
some of the most likely areas at differing times of day in order to get
differently lit views of terrain that could be hiding the target.
Saturday’s efforts will include 10 aircraft
from NVWGCAP in Minden, utilizing eight CE-182s and two CE-206s with support
from the Nevada Army National Guard and two private Hughes 500 helicopters. In
addition to this, the Hilton Flying M Ranch is sending 11 private helicopters
and nine fixed wing aircraft to assist searchers. The helicopters are
particularly useful in that they can fly closer to terrain (500 ft above the
ground) and can quickly be sent in to verify possible targets and areas of high
interest.
Importantly, it should be noted that Hilton
Flying M Ranch assets are working seamlessly with CAP and the other
participating agencies so that efforts are not duplicated and safety is
maintained at all times.
Since low altitude airborne search and
rescue is inherently risky, the emphasis is always on safety. Search
participants have been briefed on a variety of potential problems such as flying
mountainous terrain, radio procedures, turbulence, adverse weather and density
altitude issues. Today’s weather promises to be clear with little wind factors
until late afternoon.
Civil Air Patrol, the official Air Force
Auxiliary, is a nonprofit organization with more than 64,000 members nationwide.
Volunteers perform search and rescue, homeland security, disaster relief and
counter drug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The
members take a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to the
almost 27,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP
has performed missions for America for more than 60 years.
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MEDIA
INQUIRIES: Maj. Cynthia S. Ryan, Public Information Officer, Nevada Wing CAP
775.853.4057 voice/fax 775.358.3700 NVWGCAPHQ 775.848.3072 mobile,
ladybird53@sbcglobal.net. Trooper Chuck Allen, PIO NV OEM: 775.230.4921.
Steve Suwe, NV Dept. of Corrections PIO: 775.297.2664. Sgt. Cheri Cramutolo, NV
National Guard PIO:703.473.8893. Capt. April Conway, NV National Guard PIO:
775.287.5592 |
