Angel Thunder kicks off, expect increased helicopter traffic

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DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  Helicopter air operations will increase in and around the Tucson area from Oct. 9 -21 due to the 5th annual Angel Thunder Personnel Recovery and Rescue exercise.

Airmen will team with the University of Arizona Medical Center, local, state, and federal agencies Oct. 11 in order to practice emergency response procedures to increase proficiency and efficiency in dealing with catastrophic events.

"The exercise is designed to provide a safe, realistic, and educational event for all players and concentrate on "Lessons Learned" which will be used to correct problems now in order to save lives in future real world operations," said Brett Hartnett, Angel Thunder coordinator.

The training will involve several HH-60 rescue helicopters running operations to the southern Arizona level-one trauma facility at University of Arizona Medical Center, and an alternate landing zone at the University of Arizona Farms, near River Rd. and Campbell Dr., that would be utilized during a real world emergency as part of a scenario designed to simulate a disastrous event.

The exercise will integrate federal, state and local agencies to include, National Park Service, United States Forest Service, Customs Border Protection, USAID, Pima County Sheriff, Cochise County Sheriff, Gila County Sheriff, Graham County Emergency Management, Scottsdale-Osborne Hospital, University Medical Center, and the University of Arizona Police.

Angel Thunder facilitates a working relationship between local community authorities and the Air Force, other U.S. military rescue forces and federal agencies, as well as familiarizing local emergency management officials with national level search and rescue capabilities and procedures.

One position will be granted for up to three media outlets wishing to ride in one of the rescue helicopters on Oct 11. Media interested in filling a flight opportunity need to contact the 355th Fighter Wing Public Affairs office no later than 8 a.m. Oct. 7. All media representatives wishing to cover Angel Thunder events must RSVP by no later than 4 p.m. Oct. 9. To RSVP, call (520) 228-3406.

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