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Buyer's Guide
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Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base:
Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans
 Originally commissioned in July 1955 and located on Lake Pontchartrain, the Coast Guard Air Station came to its present home in December 1957 at Alvin Callendar Field, Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans. Rededicate in September 1996, following extensive renovations, the Air Stations facilities provide maintenance for five HH-65C helicopters; supply and support spaces for 28 officers, 86 enlisted and 2 civilians; and quarters for 2 ready flight crews 24 hours a day. Airframes flown by the Coast Guard in New Orleans have included the HO-3S, HO-4S, HUS-1G, HH52A and the HH-3F “Pelican” helicopter.
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OTHER
COMMAND UNITS
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In September 1985, Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans became the first unit in the Coast Guard to fly the HH-65A “Dolphin” in operational missions, and again led the fleet being the first among Coast Guard Air Stations to upgrade to the HH-65B. In 2006, the Coast Guard Air Station again upgraded to the more powerful HH-65C. Having a top speed of 175 knots, the HH-65C incorporates state-of-the-art aviation technology to enable “hands-off” flight in all weather conditions. The re-engineered twin turbine helicopter has an operational radius of 150 nautical miles with 30 minutes on-scene time. Flown by a crew of four including two pilots, one flight mechanic, and a rescue swimmer/EMT the HH-65C has a total gross weight limitation of 9,480 pounds.
Today Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans’ responsibilities include an area from Apalachicola, Fla., north to Memphis, Tenn., to the Texas-Louisiana border and thousands of offshore oil platforms in the Gulf of Mexico. Within this area, the station’s missions include homeland security (HLS), search and rescue (SAR), law enforcement (LE), marine environmental protection (EP), and aids to navigation (ATON). To meet these demanding missions, the air station flies over 3,200 hours annually.
Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans was the first air station to integrate into a Coast Guard Sector organization with the inception of Coast Guard Sector New Orleans, led by Marine Safety Office New Orleans and including Group New Orleans. With an emphasis on mission effectiveness, the Sector concept is an integral component of the Coast Guard’s future command and control organization. Coast Guard air station personnel have developed strong relationships with multiple government agencies including the FBI, Secret Service, and state and local law enforcement.
Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans has served as the Coast Guard’s flagship unit, introducing new HLS operational capabilities such as joint USCG/FBI S.W.A.T. team interoperability, including the first FBI live-fire sniper training from a USCG HH-65B helicopter. In addition, Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans has led the USCG in the development and implementation of vertical delivery (hoist delivery) of USCG boarding teams to vessels at sea, a capability now used frequently with the Coast Guard air station’s partners within USCG Sector New Orleans.
In 2005 following the passage of Hurricane Katrina, Air Station New Orleans briefly became “Air Group” New Orleans, supporting fleet-wide rotor and fixed wing air operations. Coast Guard helicopters flew over 500 flight hours and hoisted over 1,800 people to safety during both Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
In 2006, Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans flew 373 SAR cases, saving 117 people, assisting 50 others and preventing the loss of $1.8 million in property. Since its establishment in 1955, Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans has saved more than 5600 lives and thus, is considered to be one of the busiest all-helicopter SAR units in the Coast Guard.
Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans completed more than 30 MEP flights in FY06, supplemented by the Coast Guard Auxiliary, who flew more than 250 sorties in support of Coast Guard air missions. Coast Guard Auxiliarists work closely with the Coast Guard’s largest Marine Safety Office; conducting spill response and detection of illegal hazardous waste dumps.
Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans has been awarded eleven Meritorious Unit Commendations for its superior performance during rescue operations as well as five Coast Guard Unit Commendations for exceptional operational performance.
Louisiana Air National Guard
The Louisiana Air National Guard was formed in December 1940, as the 122nd Observation Squadron. Since its inception, the unit has participated in World War II, the Korean Conflict, the Cold War, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Northern Watch, Operation Southern Watch, Kosovo, Operation Noble Eagle, Air Expeditionary Force Deployments, Operation Iraqi Freedom and the Global War on Terrorism. |
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