Video: rappelling into the Cascades

Author Bill GabbertPosted on Categories HelicoptersTags ,

Rappelling in the Cascades! It doesn’t get any better than this for an aerial delivered firefighter! Packing out on the PCT!

A post shared by Central Oregon Rappellers (@centraloregonrappellers) on

Adam sent us the link to this Instagram video that was shot from a spotter’s perspective of two firefighters rappelling in the Cascade Range in central Oregon to work on a lightning-caused fire.

Thanks Adam!

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4 thoughts on “Video: rappelling into the Cascades”

  1. The ropes are rarely retired due to friction from the skid surface. By contract, the aircraft are required to have skid protectors keeping the ropes from rubbing on the “non-skid” surfaces of the skids. Fast rappel glazing, pitch, and service life are the usual suspects for retirement criteria.

  2. Agree with Jerry, that black non-skid application on the machine’s skids is very abrasive. I wouldn’t want my lifeline to be rubbing against it when I’m the guy in suspension. We always used to rappel inside the skids, and the rope didn’t rub against any part of the helicopter.

  3. Guess they like to replace the rope very frequently since they are running it in such a way that it is constantly rubbing against the skid of the helicopter. Even back in the dark ages of the 1970’s when doing SWAT training with L A County Sheriff and rappelling out of a big Sikorsky we had a fixed pully to offset the rope from a friction surface

    1. Jerry,

      Every rappel helicopter under contract have skid protectors that are made of a non-abrasive material. The ropes rest against it with no damage during the rappel operation.

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