Multimedia Release

ASTORIA, Ore. — A U.S. Coast Guard Adanced Helicopter Rescue School (AHRS) student is lowered from a Royal Canadian Air Force CH-149 Cormorant rescue helicopter near Cape Disappointment, Wash., Thursday, Jan. 26, 2012.

U.S. Coast Guard pilots from Air Station Astoria at Sector Columbia River, Ore., flew MH-60 Jayhawk helicopters and Royal Canadian Air Force pilots from the 442nd Squadron out of Comox, B.C., flew a CH-149 Cormorant helicopter in support of the AHRS class for the week of Jan. 23 - 27, 2012.

U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Nate Littlejohn

ASTORIA, Ore. — U.S. Coast Guard Senior Chief Petty Officer Thomas Beaudry (right), lead instructor of the Advanced Helicopter Rescue School (AHRS) in Astoria, gives classroom training to a unique group of students Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2012.

The U.S. Coast Guard AHRS class for the week of Jan. 23 - 27, 2012 included students from the Los Angeles City Fire Department, Santa Barbara County, Calif., Fire Department and the Royal Canadian Air Force 442nd Squadron out of Comox, B.C.

U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Nate Littlejohn

ASTORIA, Ore. — U.S. Coast Guard Advanced Helicopter Rescue School (AHRS) students pose for a class photo on Waikiki Beach near Cape Disappointment, Wash., Friday, Jan. 27, 2012 while a Royal Canadian Air Force CH-149 Cormorant rescue helicopter hovers in the background.

The U.S. Coast Guard AHRS class for the week of Jan. 23 - 27, 2012 included students from the Los Angeles City Fire Department, Santa Barbara County, Calif., Fire Department and the Royal Canadian Air Force 442nd Squadron out of Comox, B.C.

U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Nate Littlejohn

ASTORIA, Ore. — Senior Chief Petty Officer Thomas Beaudry narrates footage taken from a unique week of joint agency Advanced Helicopter Rescue School (AHRS) at Cape Disappointment, Wash., for the week of Jan. 23 - 27, 2012.

The unique U.S. Coast Guard AHRS class included students from the Los Angeles City Fire Department, Santa Barbara County, Calif., Fire Department and the Royal Canadian Air Force 442nd Squadron out of Comox, B.C.

U.S. Coast Guard video by Petty Officer 3rd Class Nate Littlejohn

ASTORIA, Ore. — The U.S. Coast Guard Advanced Helicopter Rescue School (AHRS) in Astoria hosted the first joint agency class of its kind Jan. 23-27, strengthening partnerships and sharing knowledge with agencies with similar search and rescue missions on the west coast of North America. 

U.S. Coast Guard AHRS normally trains U.S. Coast Guard helicopter rescue personnel. This unique class included civilian rescue air crewmembers from the Los Angeles City Fire Department and Santa Barbara County, Calif., Fire Department as well as military Search and Rescue Technicians from the Royal Canadian Air Force 442nd Squadron out of Comox, B.C.

U.S. Coast Guard instructors provided pilots and crews with training in heavy weather and heavy surf conditions.

The entrance to the Columbia River provides the surf, cliffs, caves and weather ideal for training air rescue personnel to perform in extreme conditions.

For more information, please contact Petty Officer Nate Littlejohn at (503) 861-6132.