In preparation efforts for the upcoming spring and summer salmon fishing season, the Coast Guard Air Station in Kodiak has begun positioning assets into Prince William Sound as well as the Gulf of Alaska.

On April 30th, in an effort to reduce response times to the area, Air Station personnel deployed an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter and its support crew to Cordova.

The Coast Guard will be alternating between that helicopter and an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter during the period of May and September. Those crews will get logistical support for their operations from an Air Station Kodiak based HC-130 Hercules during their deployment. Other aircraft based in Kodiak will remain there to respond to additional search and rescure missions in other parts of the state.

“Having the Coast Guard Air Station helicopter crews forward deployed to Cordova essentially splits the air station’s area of responsibility into two, helping our response times to be more rapid and effective in the Prince William Sound and Gulf of Alaska areas,” said Lt. Mark Heussner, an Air Station Kodiak MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter pilot. “Even during the summer time when the weather is warmer it is still vital that rescue crews are able to respond to a maritime emergency quickly because the waters of Alaska are still frigid and dangerous to mariners.”

Air Station Kodiak forward deployed aircraft and crews to the area last year as well. Those crews were credited with saving seven lives and they assisted 28 other individuals during that time in Cordova.