THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 19, 1995 TAG: 9503190053
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY LANE DEGREGORY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ROANOKE ISLAND LENGTH: Medium: 82 lines
When a small airplane crashed in Croatan Sound two years ago, 45 minutes passed before Coast Guard rescuers could respond to the scene.
The Dare County airport was less than 500 yards away.
If such an accident occurs again, airport personnel will be able to rescue the victims in less than 10 minutes.
Dare County's airport is getting into the boat business.
``We're still in the process of developing this program. We have a wonderful rescue boat that we want to share,'' Airport Manager Tim Gaylord said from the waterfront facility Tuesday. ``We're here to help.''
Purchased two years ago with $11,000 - half from a state grant and half from airport revenue - the Carolina Skiff Surf Rescue Vessel was originally designated to help save pilots and plane passengers who crashed into the Croatan Sound.
This month, airport personnel expanded their rescue service to include boaters, fishermen, swimmers - anyone who needs assistance on the water. All six full-time airport employees are certified to run the rescue boat. Each will have a pager, and will respond to emergencies 'round the clock.
``We realized being right here on the water, having this boat already, we should provide some sort of water rescue service around our area,'' Gaylord said.
``We know how many boats travel up and down out there. We know how many fishermen are in the water all around us. It's nice for them to know that if they're in trouble on the water, someone can respond to them in 10 minutes now - rather than 45.''
Coast Guardsmen from Oregon Inlet respond to water-rescue calls around the northern Outer Banks. Nags Head's Ocean Rescue workers used to provide aid for water emergencies around Manteo. Now, airport personnel will be the first responders to all calls within a 7-mile radius of the terminal - covering all the waterways around Roanoke Island.
Airport employees will bring their surf rescue vessel on calls from Wanchese to Manns Harbor, as far away as the Marsh Light tower. The furthest destination can be reached in 16 minutes. It takes Nags Head's rescue workers at least 25 minutes to reach Roanoke Island.
``That new rescue boat certainly is going to help the Roanoke Island area. There's no doubt about that,'' said Nags Head Ocean Rescue Director Bill Ryan, who predicted that the airport's surf boat will be called for emergencies three or four times a year.
``The airport now is going to take care of everything in that area. They have a boat out there like no rescue squad I know of on the Outer Banks,'' Ryan said. ``It's a very stable craft. It can do well in shallow water. They might as well use it.''
A 21-foot fiberglass boat with a 90 horsepower jet drive engine, the Carolina Skiff travels an average of 22 miles per hour. Specially designed as a rescue craft, it has a flat bottom that can skim through 4 inches of water. Its open stern allows rescue victims to be floated onto the vessel rather than hoisted over the sides.
Up to seven people can ride in the boat. On rescue missions, one airport employee captains the craft while another administers first aid.
``With the back of the boat open, if someone is injured, you don't have to jerk them around too much trying to get them into a boat, over the sides,'' Gaylord said.
``You can really just let the water lift them and slide them onto the boat. It's much easier for the rescuers that way. And it's much safer for accident victims.''
The airport rescue craft is equipped with a spotlight for nighttime emergencies. Gaylord said he has budgeted $500 from annual airport income to run the boat. Airport officials are looking for volunteers to be trained to run their rescue craft.
``We had the boat anyway. It was natural for us to expand its use,'' said Dare County Airport Authority Chairman Richard Mapp. ``I'm glad we are able to better serve this area.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo by DREW C. WILSON, Staff
Dare County Airport Manager Tim Gaylord pilots the Carolina Skiff
Surf Rescue Vessel that will respond to all calls within a 7-mile
radius of the terminal.
by CNB