1 00:00:03,570 --> 00:00:05,473 [dramatic music] 2 00:00:05,573 --> 00:00:07,941 [Narrator] A flight to the edge of tomorrow... 3 00:00:10,277 --> 00:00:12,479 [Narrator] ...struggles to make it through the day. 4 00:00:14,948 --> 00:00:16,349 [Narrator] Mountain winds... 5 00:00:18,686 --> 00:00:20,454 [Narrator] ...batter a bush taxi 6 00:00:20,554 --> 00:00:22,789 on approach to an icy lagoon. 7 00:00:27,361 --> 00:00:29,729 [Narrator] And U.S. Army aviators... 8 00:00:30,997 --> 00:00:34,134 [Narrator] ...go toe-to-toe with the Alaskan winter. 9 00:00:34,234 --> 00:00:37,237 Worst case scenario, we'll see somebody drop. 10 00:00:37,337 --> 00:00:38,939 [helicopter whirring] 11 00:00:39,039 --> 00:00:40,307 [rock music] 12 00:00:40,407 --> 00:00:42,910 [Narrator] Anchorage International Airport, 13 00:00:43,010 --> 00:00:45,913 gateway to America's last frontier. 14 00:00:46,013 --> 00:00:48,315 Absolutely gorgeous. Just amazing. 15 00:00:49,083 --> 00:00:51,685 [Narrator] More than 700 airfields hammered 16 00:00:51,785 --> 00:00:54,821 by freezing temperatures and Arctic snowstorms. 17 00:00:54,921 --> 00:00:56,690 We're racing the clock every day, all day. 18 00:00:56,790 --> 00:00:59,526 [Narrator] It takes a major league team of workers... 19 00:01:00,294 --> 00:01:01,461 That's pretty neat. 20 00:01:01,561 --> 00:01:03,230 You can't pull over to a cloud. 21 00:01:03,564 --> 00:01:04,965 Make sure everything's buckled up. 22 00:01:05,065 --> 00:01:06,066 It could be kind of bumpy. 23 00:01:06,166 --> 00:01:08,301 [Narrator] ...to keep Alaska moving... 24 00:01:09,669 --> 00:01:11,505 [Man] Hang on, hang on, hang on! 25 00:01:11,605 --> 00:01:13,306 [Narrator] ...no matter what. 26 00:01:13,607 --> 00:01:16,609 Ready to go on the most premium flight of your life? 27 00:01:17,010 --> 00:01:18,612 All right, let's boogie. 28 00:01:18,712 --> 00:01:21,281 [Narrator] Nearly a million flights a year... 29 00:01:21,381 --> 00:01:22,983 It's a job you'll never get bored of. 30 00:01:23,383 --> 00:01:25,252 Yeah, it's gnarly down there. 31 00:01:25,352 --> 00:01:27,921 [Narrator] ...in a $4 billion dollar industry. 32 00:01:28,155 --> 00:01:29,657 Shut it down, shut it down. 33 00:01:29,957 --> 00:01:31,391 Oh, man, that's crazy. 34 00:01:31,925 --> 00:01:33,961 At the end of the day, it was a success. 35 00:01:34,061 --> 00:01:38,498 [Narrator] This is Ice Airport Alaska. 36 00:01:44,571 --> 00:01:46,973 [Narrator] At Anchorage International, 37 00:01:47,741 --> 00:01:50,277 every year, 100,000 planes 38 00:01:50,377 --> 00:01:52,846 bring over 5 million passengers 39 00:01:52,946 --> 00:01:55,482 and almost 4 million tons of freight 40 00:01:55,582 --> 00:01:57,217 from around the world. 41 00:01:59,486 --> 00:02:02,989 [winds rumbling and howling eerily] 42 00:02:03,089 --> 00:02:05,759 [Narrator] But, today, hurricane force winds 43 00:02:05,859 --> 00:02:08,194 are hitting Anchorage hard. 44 00:02:10,063 --> 00:02:12,366 This is an unusual situation. 45 00:02:12,466 --> 00:02:14,167 We've got people out on the field 46 00:02:14,267 --> 00:02:16,036 just continuously monitoring. 47 00:02:16,136 --> 00:02:17,905 [Narrator] Operations officer Bob Rieth 48 00:02:18,005 --> 00:02:20,273 is checking runways for damage. 49 00:02:20,941 --> 00:02:22,376 [Bob] It's a big storm. 50 00:02:22,476 --> 00:02:25,212 Amazon over at Kula's had a container get loose 51 00:02:25,312 --> 00:02:27,481 and go blowing out across the taxiway. 52 00:02:27,581 --> 00:02:31,018 I will take snow any day over wind shear. 53 00:02:31,118 --> 00:02:35,355 [Narrator] The wind is gusting up to 132 miles an hour. 54 00:02:35,455 --> 00:02:37,891 I saw at least three or four aircraft flipped. 55 00:02:38,525 --> 00:02:40,794 [Narrator] All departures are grounded. 56 00:02:40,894 --> 00:02:43,830 [Bob] No aircraft even taxiing, nothing. 57 00:02:43,930 --> 00:02:46,766 We immediately closed the runway to all arrivals. 58 00:02:48,101 --> 00:02:49,970 [rock music] 59 00:02:50,071 --> 00:02:53,541 [Narrator] In these conditions, incoming planes have to divert 60 00:02:53,641 --> 00:02:56,476 260 miles north to Fairbanks. 61 00:02:57,510 --> 00:02:59,513 [Comms] It's a very serious problem out here. 62 00:02:59,613 --> 00:03:01,548 [Narrator] And the airport has to be ready 63 00:03:01,648 --> 00:03:03,417 to handle the surge. 64 00:03:03,517 --> 00:03:06,754 Wind is probably one of the most common factors 65 00:03:06,854 --> 00:03:09,489 that happen at Anchorage that diverts aircraft. 66 00:03:11,591 --> 00:03:13,494 [Narrator] It's just past 9:00 am. 67 00:03:13,594 --> 00:03:15,396 Ops 1, we'll contact tower. 68 00:03:15,930 --> 00:03:17,297 [Narrator] And Fairbanks operations officer 69 00:03:17,397 --> 00:03:20,734 Bryan Kohrmann is inspecting the runways. 70 00:03:21,168 --> 00:03:25,139 We've had snow come in, powdery snow. 71 00:03:25,239 --> 00:03:27,908 [Narrator] Snow on the runways is business as usual, 72 00:03:28,008 --> 00:03:30,644 but this is no ordinary snow. 73 00:03:31,177 --> 00:03:32,312 It's very dry. 74 00:03:32,412 --> 00:03:34,382 It covers the ground really quickly. 75 00:03:34,482 --> 00:03:35,816 It can catch us off guard. 76 00:03:35,916 --> 00:03:38,084 If there's been any melting before, 77 00:03:38,185 --> 00:03:40,020 it's going to turn that water into ice 78 00:03:40,120 --> 00:03:42,789 and it can get dangerous really quick. 79 00:03:43,924 --> 00:03:46,326 [rock music] 80 00:03:46,426 --> 00:03:47,827 [Narrator] Keeping the runways open 81 00:03:47,928 --> 00:03:51,865 falls to maintenance foreman Jason Griswold and his team. 82 00:03:53,400 --> 00:03:55,068 This light snow will take to the air 83 00:03:55,168 --> 00:03:56,470 and then it comes right back down 84 00:03:56,570 --> 00:03:58,372 on the runway right behind us. 85 00:03:58,605 --> 00:04:01,275 35 and company going to ground. 86 00:04:01,375 --> 00:04:03,911 [Narrator] Bret Horner leads a three-strong crew 87 00:04:04,011 --> 00:04:07,314 driving 500-horsepower Oshkosh brooms 88 00:04:07,414 --> 00:04:10,718 onto the 2.2-mile-long main runway. 89 00:04:10,818 --> 00:04:12,920 But the clock is ticking. 90 00:04:13,453 --> 00:04:15,089 It only takes them about 20 minutes 91 00:04:15,189 --> 00:04:16,290 between here and Anchorage. 92 00:04:16,390 --> 00:04:19,459 It doesn't give us a lot of time to get the runway ready. 93 00:04:20,728 --> 00:04:21,695 [up-tempo country music] 94 00:04:21,796 --> 00:04:24,698 Fairbanks ground, unit 35 and company. 95 00:04:26,233 --> 00:04:29,569 35 and company like to switch to tower access. 96 00:04:34,040 --> 00:04:36,410 I jump on alpha and we'll just go 97 00:04:36,510 --> 00:04:38,946 to the south end here and then start. 98 00:04:39,046 --> 00:04:41,715 It can be very stressful knowing that the plane 99 00:04:41,815 --> 00:04:44,952 is maybe only 14 or 15 minutes away. 100 00:04:45,052 --> 00:04:47,754 It takes us eight minutes to run up and down this. 101 00:04:49,289 --> 00:04:51,157 [unsettling electronic music] 102 00:04:51,258 --> 00:04:53,727 [Narrator] Failure is not an option. 103 00:04:53,827 --> 00:04:56,096 [Bret] If we don't have the runway ready for them, 104 00:04:56,196 --> 00:04:59,366 the closest airport for 'em to go would be Seattle. 105 00:04:59,834 --> 00:05:01,302 But they're not going to make it. 106 00:05:01,402 --> 00:05:03,503 There's some fuel that's just going to be too low. 107 00:05:04,204 --> 00:05:07,040 It's very critical for us to keep this airport open. 108 00:05:07,140 --> 00:05:09,843 We don't want them to run out of fuel in the air. 109 00:05:11,045 --> 00:05:14,414 [inspirational music] 110 00:05:14,515 --> 00:05:18,285 [Narrator] More than 9,000 Alaskans hold pilot's licenses. 111 00:05:19,219 --> 00:05:21,722 But nearly half of Alaska's commercial pilots 112 00:05:21,822 --> 00:05:23,557 are over 45 years old. 113 00:05:26,426 --> 00:05:29,362 So growing the next generation of bush aviators 114 00:05:29,463 --> 00:05:30,964 is a nonstop job. 115 00:05:32,166 --> 00:05:34,000 - Nice flight control. - Good flight control. 116 00:05:35,969 --> 00:05:38,138 [upbeat country music] 117 00:05:38,238 --> 00:05:41,542 [Narrator] At the lakeside airport of Port Alsworth... 118 00:05:41,642 --> 00:05:43,377 We're looking at 10,000. 119 00:05:43,477 --> 00:05:46,213 You're like over 1,000 pounds light, 120 00:05:46,313 --> 00:05:47,381 - which is really-- - Yeah. 121 00:05:47,481 --> 00:05:48,949 - That's really, really good. - Yeah. 122 00:05:49,049 --> 00:05:50,350 [Narrator] ...Lake Clark Air pilot, 123 00:05:50,450 --> 00:05:52,453 24-year-old Ned Fowler... 124 00:05:52,553 --> 00:05:55,622 I have 75 pounds more stuff. 125 00:05:55,722 --> 00:05:57,290 [Narrator] ...is prepping for the biggest day 126 00:05:57,390 --> 00:05:59,192 of his career so far. 127 00:05:59,593 --> 00:06:01,194 Today, we're going into Chignik Lagoon. 128 00:06:01,294 --> 00:06:03,697 It's probably our most challenging airport. 129 00:06:03,997 --> 00:06:06,333 It's a short airport for the type of aircraft 130 00:06:06,433 --> 00:06:08,035 we're operating in and out of there. 131 00:06:08,135 --> 00:06:09,403 So you've got to be prepared for that. 132 00:06:09,503 --> 00:06:13,073 Also, Chignik means wind, so it's a very windy area. 133 00:06:14,809 --> 00:06:16,443 So first is the bay. 134 00:06:16,543 --> 00:06:19,813 [Narrator] Today's mission is flying passengers and freight 135 00:06:19,913 --> 00:06:22,816 in and out of the airline's trickiest destination, 136 00:06:22,917 --> 00:06:24,517 Chignik Lagoon... 137 00:06:26,152 --> 00:06:27,821 Gonna be a little gnarly going in. 138 00:06:27,921 --> 00:06:30,490 [Narrator] ...in the company's largest aircraft. 139 00:06:30,590 --> 00:06:33,327 Same sort of thing on that whole bearing side, it looks like. 140 00:06:33,427 --> 00:06:34,627 [Glen] Yeah. 141 00:06:34,728 --> 00:06:37,998 [Narrator] Before the airline's founder, Glen Sr., can retire, 142 00:06:38,098 --> 00:06:40,767 Ned has to prove he can take on the route. 143 00:06:42,069 --> 00:06:42,970 [Glen] Today is the day. 144 00:06:43,070 --> 00:06:45,538 We're taking a pilot into an airport 145 00:06:45,639 --> 00:06:48,175 that is probably the graduation airport. 146 00:06:48,275 --> 00:06:51,912 When we have a pilot that we can just send anywhere, anytime, 147 00:06:52,012 --> 00:06:54,815 they would have to be standing by to go do 148 00:06:54,915 --> 00:06:57,618 any of these crazy flights that we're asked to do, 149 00:06:57,718 --> 00:06:58,786 I could send Ned. 150 00:06:58,886 --> 00:07:00,821 So he just wants to make sure that I can go in 151 00:07:00,921 --> 00:07:02,156 and operate in there safely. 152 00:07:02,256 --> 00:07:05,192 And getting that sign off is a next step in my journey, 153 00:07:05,292 --> 00:07:06,359 I guess. 154 00:07:07,427 --> 00:07:10,330 [Narrator] Glen Sr. and Ned don't exactly have 155 00:07:10,430 --> 00:07:13,199 your typical instructor-student relationship. 156 00:07:14,167 --> 00:07:16,437 He happens to be my grandson, which is my privilege 157 00:07:16,537 --> 00:07:19,340 and pleasure to teach today. 158 00:07:19,440 --> 00:07:21,975 The things we need to always be conscious of 159 00:07:22,075 --> 00:07:24,144 when operating into an airport 160 00:07:24,244 --> 00:07:28,148 that has unusual or tricky considerations. 161 00:07:28,248 --> 00:07:30,117 [Narrator] Ned's aviation journey began 162 00:07:30,217 --> 00:07:33,020 with his grandfather more than 10 years ago. 163 00:07:33,820 --> 00:07:35,489 [Ned] I remember my first flight lesson with him. 164 00:07:35,589 --> 00:07:37,524 I think I was 12 or 13. 165 00:07:37,624 --> 00:07:40,027 He's been training me and giving me tips throughout. 166 00:07:40,127 --> 00:07:41,662 So getting a sign off from Glen Sr. 167 00:07:41,762 --> 00:07:43,897 for Chignik Lagoon, it'll be great. 168 00:07:44,864 --> 00:07:45,966 [hip-hop music] 169 00:07:46,066 --> 00:07:48,001 [Narrator] For this mission, Ned's flying 170 00:07:48,101 --> 00:07:51,605 the half-million-dollar Beechcraft BE99. 171 00:07:52,606 --> 00:07:54,441 A thousand-mile range 172 00:07:54,541 --> 00:07:57,677 and 240-mile-an-hour cruising speed 173 00:07:58,545 --> 00:08:02,716 give it the legs to reach 95% of mainland Alaska 174 00:08:02,816 --> 00:08:04,751 within three-and-a-half hours. 175 00:08:07,087 --> 00:08:11,692 [rock music] 176 00:08:11,792 --> 00:08:15,629 Once the passengers, baggage, and groceries are loaded... 177 00:08:20,133 --> 00:08:22,302 [Narrator] ...Ned's challenge can begin. 178 00:08:28,642 --> 00:08:32,212 For takeoff, Ned lowers the BE99's flaps 179 00:08:32,312 --> 00:08:34,080 to generate extra lift, 180 00:08:34,614 --> 00:08:36,817 accelerates to 100 miles an hour, 181 00:08:36,917 --> 00:08:40,420 and climbs at almost 1,000 feet per minute. 182 00:08:46,293 --> 00:08:47,494 [hip-hop music] 183 00:08:47,595 --> 00:08:51,898 [Narrator] The first leg of the flight is 325 miles southwest 184 00:08:51,999 --> 00:08:54,768 from Port Alsworth to Chignik Lake. 185 00:08:56,637 --> 00:08:59,907 From there, it's a 10-mile hop to Chignik Lagoon, 186 00:09:00,007 --> 00:09:01,675 where he has to tackle the landing 187 00:09:01,775 --> 00:09:04,344 that could take his career to the next level. 188 00:09:11,752 --> 00:09:14,422 [Narrator] Clear skies provide spectacular views 189 00:09:14,522 --> 00:09:16,023 of the Seward Peninsula, 190 00:09:16,123 --> 00:09:18,291 a remnant of the Bering Land Bridge 191 00:09:18,391 --> 00:09:21,328 that first carried humans across from Asia. 192 00:09:22,996 --> 00:09:26,233 [Narrator] Ned cruises at an altitude of 12,000 feet, 193 00:09:27,434 --> 00:09:31,171 but 80 minutes into the flight, the statewide weather system 194 00:09:31,271 --> 00:09:34,975 warns of worsening conditions above the Chigniks. 195 00:09:35,075 --> 00:09:40,881 [tense music] 196 00:09:56,029 --> 00:09:58,131 [Narrator] At 10:40 am, 197 00:09:58,231 --> 00:10:00,934 Ned begins his approach to Chignik Lake. 198 00:10:01,601 --> 00:10:04,371 Icy rain batters the Beechcraft. 199 00:10:04,471 --> 00:10:07,708 If it freezes on the wings and control surfaces, 200 00:10:07,808 --> 00:10:10,477 it disrupts the aircraft's aerodynamics, 201 00:10:10,577 --> 00:10:12,212 causing a loss of lift 202 00:10:12,313 --> 00:10:14,481 that could drop it out of the sky. 203 00:10:29,596 --> 00:10:31,632 [Narrator] If Ned can't land here, 204 00:10:31,732 --> 00:10:35,869 he won't even get to begin his final assessment flight. 205 00:10:45,579 --> 00:10:48,215 [Narrator] Winds up to 132 miles an hour 206 00:10:48,315 --> 00:10:50,116 are battering Anchorage. 207 00:10:55,922 --> 00:10:57,624 [Narrator] And Fairbanks is getting ready 208 00:10:57,724 --> 00:11:00,961 for 14 incoming flights on diversion. 209 00:11:01,461 --> 00:11:03,997 It's very critical for us to keep this airport open. 210 00:11:04,097 --> 00:11:06,433 We don't want them to run out of fuel in the air. 211 00:11:07,234 --> 00:11:09,236 [Narrator] Fresh snow is still falling. 212 00:11:09,336 --> 00:11:11,038 [Bret] Got to get it off the runway. 213 00:11:11,138 --> 00:11:12,873 We got diversions coming. 214 00:11:12,973 --> 00:11:14,341 [Narrator] And it's stubborn. 215 00:11:14,441 --> 00:11:16,343 This type of snow is terrible. 216 00:11:16,443 --> 00:11:17,811 You can't turn your blowers on 217 00:11:17,911 --> 00:11:19,212 because it'll blow it up in the air. 218 00:11:19,313 --> 00:11:21,215 It just drops it all over the runway. 219 00:11:21,315 --> 00:11:22,816 It's just a mess. 220 00:11:22,916 --> 00:11:24,851 You can never seem to get it clean enough. 221 00:11:24,951 --> 00:11:28,355 [suspensive music] 222 00:11:32,025 --> 00:11:34,761 [Narrator] It's now 9:27 am. 223 00:11:35,195 --> 00:11:36,830 In less than two minutes, 224 00:11:36,930 --> 00:11:39,700 the first unscheduled arrival is due. 225 00:11:40,400 --> 00:11:43,504 35 and company is off 2-0 right holding short. 226 00:11:43,737 --> 00:11:46,440 [Narrator] So the brooms vacate the airstrip to make room 227 00:11:46,540 --> 00:11:48,508 for the first diverted aircraft. 228 00:11:54,814 --> 00:11:56,783 So we're having Alaska coming in. 229 00:11:59,854 --> 00:12:01,255 [Narrator] Moments later, 230 00:12:01,355 --> 00:12:07,360 the 83-ton, 117-foot-wide 737-900 touches down. 231 00:12:14,034 --> 00:12:16,036 [Narrator] But the next diverted aircraft 232 00:12:16,136 --> 00:12:20,274 is bigger than any of the jets Fairbanks usually serves. 233 00:12:20,374 --> 00:12:22,676 [unsettling music] 234 00:12:22,776 --> 00:12:25,346 We got to keep the runway cleared full width 235 00:12:25,446 --> 00:12:27,280 for that bigger plane that's coming in. 236 00:12:28,015 --> 00:12:29,550 [Narrator] In just seven minutes, 237 00:12:29,650 --> 00:12:35,622 a 212-foot-wide, 294-ton Boeing 777 is due. 238 00:12:37,057 --> 00:12:40,527 When the pressure hits, that's when it makes it interesting. 239 00:12:42,696 --> 00:12:44,497 [Narrator] This giant of the skies 240 00:12:45,699 --> 00:12:48,401 needs the whole width of the runway cleared. 241 00:12:50,103 --> 00:12:54,407 We need to get this runway all the way out to 160 feet. 242 00:12:54,507 --> 00:12:56,943 Bret and the team are doing everything they can. 243 00:12:57,978 --> 00:12:59,479 Travis, you go right. 244 00:12:59,579 --> 00:13:01,315 I'll switch mine to the left. 245 00:13:02,149 --> 00:13:05,853 [Narrator] To move 40 tons of snow on every pass, 246 00:13:05,953 --> 00:13:08,055 team leader Bret needs his team 247 00:13:08,155 --> 00:13:12,326 of three 20-foot-wide brooms to work in formation. 248 00:13:12,426 --> 00:13:13,927 [Bret] Everybody, just grab a line 249 00:13:14,027 --> 00:13:15,762 or just follow me through. 250 00:13:19,166 --> 00:13:21,067 Oh. 251 00:13:21,435 --> 00:13:22,802 Coming at us. 252 00:13:25,272 --> 00:13:29,276 [light suspensive music] 253 00:13:29,376 --> 00:13:34,047 [Narrator] At 9:38 am, the 777 is on final approach. 254 00:13:34,648 --> 00:13:37,017 Got the runway just about all cleaned up. 255 00:13:43,557 --> 00:13:46,793 [Narrator] It lands at 155 miles an hour. 256 00:13:52,666 --> 00:13:57,003 But there are still 12 more diverted aircraft incoming. 257 00:14:02,275 --> 00:14:06,880 [thrilling music] 258 00:14:06,980 --> 00:14:09,650 They just keep stacking up, coming from Anchorage. 259 00:14:10,484 --> 00:14:12,686 They're coming in one right after another. 260 00:14:14,387 --> 00:14:16,156 Can't believe we've gotten so many. 261 00:14:22,396 --> 00:14:25,099 [upbeat rock music] 262 00:14:25,199 --> 00:14:27,468 Got to keep your head on a swivel out here. 263 00:14:27,568 --> 00:14:30,070 [Narrator] By lunchtime, the four-hour surge 264 00:14:30,170 --> 00:14:31,771 is drawing to a close. 265 00:14:32,539 --> 00:14:34,140 Take alpha and split it. 266 00:14:36,777 --> 00:14:39,913 So here's our next diversion for the day. 267 00:14:40,014 --> 00:14:41,181 Should be our last. 268 00:14:41,281 --> 00:14:43,350 [Narrator] When the final diverted aircraft 269 00:14:43,450 --> 00:14:44,918 touches down... 270 00:14:46,186 --> 00:14:48,055 And here we go, we're exiting. 271 00:14:48,155 --> 00:14:50,190 35 and company is exiting. 272 00:14:51,692 --> 00:14:54,328 [Narrator] ...Jason and Bret can call it a day. 273 00:14:54,762 --> 00:14:56,063 Good job today, guys. 274 00:14:56,163 --> 00:14:57,431 Let's go ahead and fuel and park them. 275 00:14:57,531 --> 00:14:59,199 I'll see you back at the barn. 276 00:14:59,733 --> 00:15:01,735 [country rock music] 277 00:15:01,836 --> 00:15:04,004 The team worked out pretty good today. 278 00:15:04,104 --> 00:15:07,374 We got everything all cleaned up pretty good. 279 00:15:08,242 --> 00:15:09,610 Keeping the airport running, 280 00:15:09,710 --> 00:15:12,045 and we'll be back here at 3:00 in the morning. 281 00:15:15,082 --> 00:15:16,550 [suspensive music] 282 00:15:16,650 --> 00:15:19,153 [Narrator] To defend America's northern frontier, 283 00:15:19,420 --> 00:15:22,189 almost 20,000 military personnel 284 00:15:22,289 --> 00:15:24,358 live and work in Alaska. 285 00:15:24,458 --> 00:15:26,660 [gunfire] 286 00:15:26,760 --> 00:15:28,562 The frozen wilderness challenges them 287 00:15:28,662 --> 00:15:31,898 with some of the harshest conditions in North America. 288 00:15:34,367 --> 00:15:36,270 And if they get hurt out here, 289 00:15:36,370 --> 00:15:39,906 the only way to bring them home is by air. 290 00:15:42,342 --> 00:15:44,912 [funk rock music] 291 00:15:45,012 --> 00:15:47,214 [Narrator] Fort Wainwright is the headquarters 292 00:15:47,314 --> 00:15:50,250 for the U.S. Army's 11th Airborne Division, 293 00:15:50,350 --> 00:15:53,353 a.k.a. the Arctic Angels. 294 00:15:54,855 --> 00:15:57,290 This is the base for the airborne rescuers 295 00:15:57,390 --> 00:15:59,827 of Charlie Company 152. 296 00:16:00,227 --> 00:16:03,864 Whether it's isolated, whether it's a battlefield, 297 00:16:03,964 --> 00:16:06,700 whether it's in the middle of Alaska, we will launch. 298 00:16:09,670 --> 00:16:11,905 [Narrator] In peacetime, they're always on call 299 00:16:12,005 --> 00:16:15,242 to execute both civilian and military rescues. 300 00:16:16,476 --> 00:16:18,712 But, today, the unit is prepping 301 00:16:18,812 --> 00:16:20,046 to test its readiness 302 00:16:20,146 --> 00:16:23,183 to perform medevac missions in combat zones. 303 00:16:23,650 --> 00:16:25,753 Just checking for any damages 304 00:16:25,853 --> 00:16:29,556 or anything that looks unusual to the aircraft. 305 00:16:29,957 --> 00:16:33,193 [Narrator] Captain Laura Penley begins pre-flight checks 306 00:16:33,293 --> 00:16:35,162 at 8:17 am. 307 00:16:35,463 --> 00:16:38,098 [Laura] The cold weather takes a beating on the aircraft. 308 00:16:38,198 --> 00:16:39,599 That's why we keep them inside, 309 00:16:39,699 --> 00:16:41,735 and then we pull them out for medevac missions. 310 00:16:43,804 --> 00:16:45,339 [funk rock music] 311 00:16:45,439 --> 00:16:48,342 [Narrator] To complete the test for combat rescue duty, 312 00:16:48,976 --> 00:16:52,813 the team has to fly to an RV point 48 miles away 313 00:16:53,247 --> 00:16:55,916 and conduct a simulated airborne rescue 314 00:16:56,016 --> 00:16:58,052 under battlefield conditions. 315 00:16:58,519 --> 00:17:00,354 There are certain scenarios 316 00:17:00,454 --> 00:17:02,556 where there will be a casualty on the ground 317 00:17:02,656 --> 00:17:04,258 in, say, a wooded area, 318 00:17:04,358 --> 00:17:06,193 and we just cannot land the aircraft. 319 00:17:06,293 --> 00:17:08,295 So what we can do is hoist the medic down, 320 00:17:08,696 --> 00:17:10,865 pick up the patient, hoist them back into the helicopter, 321 00:17:10,965 --> 00:17:12,999 and get that casualty the treatment they need. 322 00:17:14,467 --> 00:17:16,403 [dubstep music] 323 00:17:16,503 --> 00:17:19,106 [Narrator] For medevac missions, the Army uses 324 00:17:19,206 --> 00:17:22,642 the Connecticut-built Sikorsky Black Hawk helicopter. 325 00:17:23,910 --> 00:17:26,413 A 316-mile range 326 00:17:26,513 --> 00:17:30,050 and twin 2,000-shaft horsepower engines 327 00:17:30,150 --> 00:17:33,721 give it a 160-mile-an-hour top speed, 328 00:17:34,288 --> 00:17:37,857 making it the perfect combat zone air ambulance. 329 00:17:39,693 --> 00:17:41,462 [rock music] 330 00:17:41,562 --> 00:17:43,897 [Narrator] Pilot for today's test mission 331 00:17:43,997 --> 00:17:48,235 is former Army ground ambulance commander Captain Seth Koester. 332 00:17:49,736 --> 00:17:51,872 I'm a big fan of the Black Hawk. 333 00:17:51,972 --> 00:17:53,340 It's big, it's powerful. 334 00:17:53,440 --> 00:17:55,175 It's a very capable machine. 335 00:17:55,742 --> 00:17:56,910 [Narrator] His co-pilot... 336 00:17:57,010 --> 00:17:58,779 Clock's set and running. My clock's good. 337 00:17:58,879 --> 00:17:59,947 Sure is. 338 00:18:00,047 --> 00:18:03,083 [Narrator] ...is 33-year-old Pennsylvania native 339 00:18:03,183 --> 00:18:04,852 Captain Laura Penley. 340 00:18:04,952 --> 00:18:08,389 It does feel great to be a female in the military 341 00:18:08,489 --> 00:18:10,057 and kind of pave the way. 342 00:18:10,157 --> 00:18:12,893 All caution, warning, advisory lights, looking good. 343 00:18:12,993 --> 00:18:15,095 I definitely feel like I can set an example 344 00:18:15,196 --> 00:18:18,365 for the younger generation of females. 345 00:18:20,734 --> 00:18:21,969 [Narrator] In the cabin, 346 00:18:22,069 --> 00:18:24,237 Crew Chief Sergeant Wyatt Priest 347 00:18:24,337 --> 00:18:26,273 operates the electronic hoist. 348 00:18:26,740 --> 00:18:28,775 [Wyatt] You have your cable out switch right here, 349 00:18:28,875 --> 00:18:29,976 your cable in. 350 00:18:30,076 --> 00:18:32,713 The whole hoist can boom in, and it booms out as well. 351 00:18:32,813 --> 00:18:35,382 That's pretty much how you operate it is with this pendant. 352 00:18:36,216 --> 00:18:38,285 [light thrilling music] 353 00:18:38,385 --> 00:18:39,986 It's a bit of a starter. 354 00:18:41,755 --> 00:18:43,123 [Narrator] Once the medic boards, 355 00:18:43,223 --> 00:18:45,825 the crew of four is ready to fly. 356 00:18:50,164 --> 00:18:53,534 [Narrator] Four 24-foot-long main rotor blades 357 00:18:53,634 --> 00:18:56,436 spin up to 258 revs per minute... 358 00:19:01,342 --> 00:19:02,909 [Narrator] ...providing the lift 359 00:19:03,009 --> 00:19:06,846 to raise the 22,000-pound bird off the ground. 360 00:19:12,285 --> 00:19:14,021 [pulsing music] 361 00:19:14,121 --> 00:19:17,591 [Narrator] The medevac target is 48 miles east. 362 00:19:17,858 --> 00:19:20,560 Platoon leader Captain Jesse Long... 363 00:19:20,660 --> 00:19:21,762 That's that 491. 364 00:19:21,862 --> 00:19:23,564 Like in three, we got you loud and clear. 365 00:19:23,664 --> 00:19:25,365 [Narrator] ...is responsible for assessing 366 00:19:25,465 --> 00:19:27,034 the unit's performance. 367 00:19:27,134 --> 00:19:28,969 Hoist is really the hardest thing that we do, 368 00:19:29,069 --> 00:19:31,071 so we make sure that we train it at every opportunity. 369 00:19:31,171 --> 00:19:33,106 We have to make sure that our crews are proficient 370 00:19:33,206 --> 00:19:37,078 at dealing with weather, winds, high altitude, mountains. 371 00:19:37,178 --> 00:19:38,778 Blowing snow is a big one. 372 00:19:40,781 --> 00:19:43,450 [Narrator] He'll grade hoist skills and teamwork. 373 00:19:45,786 --> 00:19:49,055 [Narrator] But the main enemy for this mission is the clock. 374 00:19:49,556 --> 00:19:52,659 They have just 60 minutes to get the job done. 375 00:19:53,427 --> 00:19:55,596 We typically only pick up urgent patients 376 00:19:55,696 --> 00:19:59,533 that have to be to a next role of care within an hour. 377 00:19:59,633 --> 00:20:02,603 Time is of the essence because there could be 378 00:20:02,703 --> 00:20:06,306 a patient dying on the ground, just waiting, 379 00:20:06,406 --> 00:20:08,241 waiting for someone to come and rescue him. 380 00:20:11,145 --> 00:20:12,379 [Narrator] But as the Black Hawk 381 00:20:12,479 --> 00:20:13,980 reaches open country, 382 00:20:14,514 --> 00:20:17,050 powerful winds gust from the west. 383 00:20:18,486 --> 00:20:20,487 [Seth] With the hoist, we are limited 384 00:20:20,587 --> 00:20:22,823 to 35 knots of wind 385 00:20:22,923 --> 00:20:25,492 because the cable can become uncontrollable. 386 00:20:25,592 --> 00:20:28,295 It could snag on something up here and just cut the cable, 387 00:20:28,395 --> 00:20:31,064 and then that could be deadly for whoever's riding on it. 388 00:20:31,598 --> 00:20:33,500 [Narrator] If the wind keeps building, 389 00:20:33,600 --> 00:20:36,403 this medevac crew won't get the chance to prove 390 00:20:36,503 --> 00:20:38,572 it's ready for combat rescues. 391 00:20:45,612 --> 00:20:46,780 [suspensive music] 392 00:20:46,880 --> 00:20:49,849 [Narrator] 4,000 feet above the remote Seward Peninsula... 393 00:20:54,120 --> 00:20:56,490 [Narrator] ...Ned Fowler is on approach for landing 394 00:20:56,590 --> 00:20:57,958 at Chignik Lake. 395 00:20:59,927 --> 00:21:02,095 [Narrator] This is just the first of two landings 396 00:21:02,195 --> 00:21:04,832 in the assessment flight that will determine 397 00:21:04,932 --> 00:21:07,701 whether Ned can take over the routes permanently 398 00:21:07,801 --> 00:21:10,370 and Glen Sr. can retire from them. 399 00:21:15,976 --> 00:21:17,677 [Narrator] As well as icy rain, 400 00:21:17,777 --> 00:21:19,746 wind speeds are on the rise. 401 00:21:29,856 --> 00:21:32,059 [Narrator] A 28-mile-an-hour crosswind 402 00:21:32,159 --> 00:21:33,860 from the right sends the plane 403 00:21:33,960 --> 00:21:36,897 into sideways flight known as crabbing. 404 00:21:40,701 --> 00:21:43,838 Ned compensates by steering into the wind 405 00:21:43,938 --> 00:21:47,107 and begins his final preparations for landing. 406 00:21:58,018 --> 00:22:06,026 [thrilling music] 407 00:22:13,734 --> 00:22:15,536 [Narrator] At 10:53 am, 408 00:22:15,636 --> 00:22:19,506 he touches down on the 2,800-foot-long dirt strip. 409 00:22:25,979 --> 00:22:27,647 [upbeat music] 410 00:22:27,747 --> 00:22:29,116 [Man 2] It's like gold there. 411 00:22:29,216 --> 00:22:30,851 [Narrator] After a quick, breakage-free 412 00:22:30,951 --> 00:22:32,452 grocery delivery... 413 00:22:32,819 --> 00:22:34,121 - [Man 2] You got it? - Yep. 414 00:22:34,221 --> 00:22:36,523 [Narrator] ...Ned takes on more passengers. 415 00:22:36,624 --> 00:22:37,724 [Ned] There's not many other carriers 416 00:22:37,824 --> 00:22:39,860 who offer direct service to these communities. 417 00:22:39,960 --> 00:22:41,195 There. 418 00:22:41,295 --> 00:22:43,163 [Ned] We're one of the only ones who can do that service. 419 00:22:45,666 --> 00:22:47,767 No problem, Darren. Till next time. 420 00:22:48,135 --> 00:22:49,302 We're good. 421 00:22:54,040 --> 00:22:56,543 [Narrator] And he's ready for his next takeoff. 422 00:22:58,779 --> 00:23:01,415 [suspensive music] 423 00:23:01,515 --> 00:23:04,418 [Narrator] At 11:15 am, he's airborne 424 00:23:04,518 --> 00:23:07,054 and en route for his final destination, 425 00:23:07,488 --> 00:23:09,489 Chignik Lagoon... 426 00:23:11,458 --> 00:23:12,659 [Narrator] ...the trickiest strip 427 00:23:12,759 --> 00:23:14,527 on Lake Clark Air's roster. 428 00:23:18,365 --> 00:23:20,500 [Narrator] Just two minutes after takeoff, 429 00:23:20,600 --> 00:23:23,436 Ned's five miles out. 430 00:23:31,778 --> 00:23:33,113 [Narrator] And, on approach, 431 00:23:33,213 --> 00:23:36,616 the difficulty of the task ahead becomes clear. 432 00:23:43,557 --> 00:23:45,125 [Narrator] The gusts coming off the mountains 433 00:23:45,225 --> 00:23:47,794 are up to 29 miles an hour. 434 00:23:51,198 --> 00:23:55,235 [Narrator] But the only viable approach is right past them. 435 00:23:57,037 --> 00:23:58,906 The descent runs alongside 436 00:23:59,006 --> 00:24:02,076 the windswept bluffs of Rabbit Point. 437 00:24:02,176 --> 00:24:04,377 And the cliffs of Diamond Point 438 00:24:04,477 --> 00:24:07,814 block the pilot's view of the Chignik Lagoon runway. 439 00:24:08,415 --> 00:24:11,685 Then, final approach exposes the aircraft 440 00:24:11,785 --> 00:24:14,955 to potentially destabilizing ocean winds. 441 00:24:35,008 --> 00:24:38,612 [Narrator] Increasing airspeed to 165 miles an hour 442 00:24:38,712 --> 00:24:41,014 stabilizes the BE99. 443 00:24:44,651 --> 00:24:46,453 [Narrator] But now Ned's going too fast 444 00:24:46,553 --> 00:24:48,088 for his final approach. 445 00:24:55,296 --> 00:24:57,664 [Narrator] So he eases off the throttle, 446 00:24:57,764 --> 00:25:00,400 slowing to 110 miles an hour. 447 00:25:04,505 --> 00:25:06,640 [Narrator] And lets the wind take the plane. 448 00:25:10,344 --> 00:25:12,913 [Narrator] Once he's on target, the next big threat 449 00:25:13,013 --> 00:25:15,882 is the icy lake at the end of the runway. 450 00:25:18,218 --> 00:25:26,626 [music swelling] 451 00:25:50,650 --> 00:25:51,785 [Narrator] On touchdown, 452 00:25:51,885 --> 00:25:54,288 Ned reverses the two four-bladed 453 00:25:54,388 --> 00:25:56,623 144-pound propellers 454 00:25:57,090 --> 00:25:59,894 to slow the plane until it's safe to engage 455 00:25:59,994 --> 00:26:01,828 the landing gear brakes. 456 00:26:03,731 --> 00:26:05,832 [pleasant guitar music] 457 00:26:05,932 --> 00:26:08,168 [Narrator] It's a textbook landing. 458 00:26:08,268 --> 00:26:10,137 I'd ride with this kid anywhere. 459 00:26:10,704 --> 00:26:12,573 He did a fabulous job here. 460 00:26:13,040 --> 00:26:15,109 Sweet. All right, sir. 461 00:26:15,442 --> 00:26:17,277 Heading into Anchorage, right? 462 00:26:17,378 --> 00:26:18,678 [Narrator] And more than good enough 463 00:26:18,779 --> 00:26:21,047 to get Grandpa's seal of approval. 464 00:26:21,949 --> 00:26:24,184 We just completed a final checkout 465 00:26:24,284 --> 00:26:25,953 for my eldest grandson, 466 00:26:26,053 --> 00:26:28,622 going into the trickiest airport that we fly into 467 00:26:28,722 --> 00:26:30,624 with the biggest plane we fly. 468 00:26:30,724 --> 00:26:32,893 And I couldn't be more proud of Ned. 469 00:26:32,993 --> 00:26:35,195 He's just done such a fabulous job. 470 00:26:36,564 --> 00:26:37,965 [Ned] Getting a sign-up from Glen Sr. 471 00:26:38,065 --> 00:26:40,033 is an awesome, awesome step in my career 472 00:26:40,134 --> 00:26:41,768 to be able to come in here and have 473 00:26:41,868 --> 00:26:44,338 some challenging experiences on a day-to-day basis. 474 00:26:44,438 --> 00:26:46,039 It's a great day today. 475 00:26:50,310 --> 00:26:53,981 [suspensive music] 476 00:26:54,081 --> 00:26:57,617 [Narrator] 450 feet above the Alaskan tundra... 477 00:26:58,786 --> 00:27:00,821 [Narrator] ...a U.S. Army medevac crew 478 00:27:00,921 --> 00:27:04,258 is 22 minutes into their evaluation mission, 479 00:27:04,358 --> 00:27:07,695 but high winds are complicating the rescue. 480 00:27:07,795 --> 00:27:12,133 With the hoists, we are limited to 35 knots of wind 481 00:27:12,233 --> 00:27:14,768 because the cable can become uncontrollable. 482 00:27:15,102 --> 00:27:17,571 It can snag on something up here and just cut the cable, 483 00:27:17,671 --> 00:27:20,507 and that could be deadly for whoever's riding on it. 484 00:27:21,041 --> 00:27:22,710 [Narrator] Speeds above 35 knots 485 00:27:22,810 --> 00:27:25,112 would end today's exercise 486 00:27:25,212 --> 00:27:27,781 and the crew's chances of qualifying 487 00:27:27,881 --> 00:27:30,483 to carry out rescues in combat zones. 488 00:27:31,352 --> 00:27:32,786 How far out are you guys? 489 00:27:36,523 --> 00:27:38,625 [suspensive music] 490 00:27:38,725 --> 00:27:41,195 [Narrator] While the pilot battles the gusts, 491 00:27:41,295 --> 00:27:43,330 hoist operator Sergeant Priest 492 00:27:43,430 --> 00:27:45,599 preps the medic for his descent. 493 00:27:46,467 --> 00:27:48,435 [Wyatt] So we just hook these up to the cabin floors, 494 00:27:48,535 --> 00:27:50,404 and then we hook this up to your vest. 495 00:27:50,504 --> 00:27:52,840 [Narrator] A single hook in the wrong place 496 00:27:52,940 --> 00:27:54,941 could cause a fatal fall. 497 00:27:55,041 --> 00:27:57,277 [Wyatt] We do our buddy checks, and that just verifies 498 00:27:57,378 --> 00:28:00,113 that I'm secured to the floor, and then he's secured as well. 499 00:28:00,347 --> 00:28:03,016 Get the medic hooked up to the two up right now. 500 00:28:05,552 --> 00:28:08,155 Dustoff 491, Lycan 3, roger. Two minutes out. 501 00:28:08,255 --> 00:28:10,590 [Narrator] To guide them to their casualty, 502 00:28:10,690 --> 00:28:12,859 Captains Koester and Penley 503 00:28:12,959 --> 00:28:15,562 look for a smoke marker at ground level. 504 00:28:24,705 --> 00:28:27,007 [suspensive music] 505 00:28:29,777 --> 00:28:32,545 [Narrator] At 9:12 am, Pilot Seth Koester 506 00:28:32,646 --> 00:28:36,683 brings the chopper into a hover above the target casualty. 507 00:28:37,717 --> 00:28:40,921 They now have just 33 minutes to lower the medic, 508 00:28:41,321 --> 00:28:43,523 hoist him back up with the casualty, 509 00:28:43,623 --> 00:28:45,592 and get back to base. 510 00:28:54,601 --> 00:28:56,637 [Narrator] To maintain a stable hover, 511 00:28:56,737 --> 00:29:00,440 Captain Koester keeps eyes on two fixed points 512 00:29:00,541 --> 00:29:01,775 and rides the wind 513 00:29:01,875 --> 00:29:04,644 with constant adjustment of his controls. 514 00:29:06,113 --> 00:29:09,216 [Narrator] Once the chopper's steady at a height of 60 feet, 515 00:29:09,316 --> 00:29:12,285 Sergeant Priest can begin the hoist operation. 516 00:29:18,492 --> 00:29:20,394 [Wyatt] I'm always just thinking about how I can 517 00:29:20,494 --> 00:29:22,596 put him down on the ground as safe as possible. 518 00:29:25,366 --> 00:29:27,835 [Narrator] But the medic's less than halfway down 519 00:29:27,935 --> 00:29:32,105 when a sudden gust destabilizes the helicopter's hover. 520 00:29:33,740 --> 00:29:37,177 Worst case scenario, they would be cutting the hoist cable. 521 00:29:37,745 --> 00:29:39,079 We'll see somebody drop. 522 00:29:39,546 --> 00:29:40,680 [Man 5] Stand by. 523 00:29:45,552 --> 00:29:47,120 [dramatic music] 524 00:29:47,220 --> 00:29:49,656 [Narrator] Alaska includes more islands 525 00:29:49,756 --> 00:29:51,892 than any other U.S. state. 526 00:29:52,993 --> 00:29:56,696 More than 2,500 dot the surrounding seas. 527 00:29:58,699 --> 00:30:01,301 For the people who live on them, 528 00:30:01,401 --> 00:30:03,737 aviation is a lifeline. 529 00:30:06,540 --> 00:30:10,411 [country rock music] 530 00:30:10,511 --> 00:30:14,381 [Narrator] At Nome Airport, a Pathfinder Aviation crew 531 00:30:14,848 --> 00:30:16,684 is prepping for a mission 532 00:30:16,784 --> 00:30:19,920 to help one small island make it through the winter. 533 00:30:21,155 --> 00:30:22,756 There's a lot of life necessities 534 00:30:22,856 --> 00:30:26,426 that people that can drive to Walmart take for granted. 535 00:30:26,526 --> 00:30:30,631 [Narrator] At 8:15 am, helicopter pilot Zack Ard 536 00:30:30,731 --> 00:30:34,034 starts his day loading up a 1,500-pound cargo 537 00:30:34,134 --> 00:30:36,203 of food and medicines. 538 00:30:36,303 --> 00:30:40,007 The mission today is to fly cargo from our hangar 539 00:30:40,107 --> 00:30:43,477 here in Nome out to the native village of Diomede 540 00:30:43,577 --> 00:30:46,012 on the island of Little Diomede. 541 00:30:46,546 --> 00:30:48,515 Once we get this all loaded up, 542 00:30:49,049 --> 00:30:50,384 we have some medical supplies 543 00:30:50,484 --> 00:30:52,553 that will be taken out to the village today. 544 00:30:52,653 --> 00:30:55,922 If we're delayed due to unflyable, unsafe weather, 545 00:30:56,323 --> 00:31:00,627 then people aren't going to get the supplies they need to live. 546 00:31:02,362 --> 00:31:06,633 [country music] 547 00:31:06,733 --> 00:31:10,237 [Narrator] Little Diomede is a two-mile-long island. 548 00:31:10,904 --> 00:31:13,107 The only village sits at the base 549 00:31:13,207 --> 00:31:15,709 of a 1,500-foot-high cliff 550 00:31:15,809 --> 00:31:18,645 tumbling into the frozen Bering Sea. 551 00:31:19,613 --> 00:31:21,615 The Iñupiat people who live here 552 00:31:21,715 --> 00:31:23,583 have a traditional way of life 553 00:31:23,683 --> 00:31:27,787 based on hunting walrus, whale, fish, and crab. 554 00:31:28,922 --> 00:31:31,192 But now the population of 80 555 00:31:31,292 --> 00:31:34,327 relies on modern necessities to survive. 556 00:31:55,015 --> 00:31:56,650 [upbeat country music] 557 00:31:56,750 --> 00:31:59,253 [Narrator] Little Diomede is the closest point 558 00:31:59,353 --> 00:32:01,989 in the United States to Russia. 559 00:32:02,089 --> 00:32:05,926 Just 2.4 miles of ocean separates the island 560 00:32:06,026 --> 00:32:09,062 from the Russian outpost of Big Diomede. 561 00:32:15,235 --> 00:32:17,137 The neighboring islands are separated 562 00:32:17,238 --> 00:32:21,341 by an international border and the international dateline. 563 00:32:40,828 --> 00:32:43,630 The ice is too thick. Boats can't make it out. 564 00:32:43,731 --> 00:32:45,165 There's no runway for an airplane, 565 00:32:45,265 --> 00:32:48,703 so via helicopter is the only way on and off of the island. 566 00:32:48,803 --> 00:32:50,304 For both people and goods. 567 00:32:51,038 --> 00:32:52,940 [Narrator] To reach the Edge of Tomorrow, 568 00:32:53,040 --> 00:32:56,577 Zack's flying the $2 million Bell 412. 569 00:32:57,244 --> 00:33:02,015 A 2-ton max payload with a 441-mile range 570 00:33:02,115 --> 00:33:05,719 makes it perfect for heavy hauling to isolated locations. 571 00:33:09,189 --> 00:33:12,259 But conditions in the skies above the Bering Sea 572 00:33:12,359 --> 00:33:14,894 pose a constant threat to aircraft. 573 00:33:15,595 --> 00:33:20,100 You can have weather dynamics that shouldn't exist. 574 00:33:20,200 --> 00:33:23,603 You can have fog with 60-knot winds, 575 00:33:23,703 --> 00:33:26,606 severe freezing fog conditions. 576 00:33:26,706 --> 00:33:28,909 It's quite dangerous if the aircraft ices up 577 00:33:29,009 --> 00:33:31,879 and the rotor blades quit producing lift. 578 00:33:33,047 --> 00:33:37,351 [Narrator] Zack uses live feeds from the FAA's weather cameras 579 00:33:37,451 --> 00:33:38,853 to monitor the route 580 00:33:38,953 --> 00:33:42,088 until he sees what looks like a window to fly. 581 00:33:42,623 --> 00:33:43,990 We are looking directly 582 00:33:44,090 --> 00:33:47,994 from mainland Alaska to the west. 583 00:33:48,896 --> 00:33:51,131 It's pointing directly at Diomede, 584 00:33:51,231 --> 00:33:53,633 and that looks really nice now. 585 00:33:55,802 --> 00:34:03,443 [pop rock music] 586 00:34:03,777 --> 00:34:06,579 [Narrator] By 12:43, the skies are clear enough 587 00:34:06,680 --> 00:34:09,316 for Zack and his crew to mount up. 588 00:34:10,951 --> 00:34:13,086 [Automated Voice Message] H-tom system test okay. 589 00:34:18,426 --> 00:34:22,495 [Narrator] Zack throttles up the bird's twin PT6 engines. 590 00:34:38,311 --> 00:34:42,249 [Narrator] The 412 climbs at 1,350 feet per minute. 591 00:34:42,349 --> 00:34:44,217 [ominous music] 592 00:34:47,420 --> 00:34:49,522 [Narrator] But as it clears the airport... 593 00:34:50,524 --> 00:34:52,592 [Narrator] ...ice fog surrounds the chopper... 594 00:34:54,294 --> 00:34:55,996 [Narrator] ...and threatens to drag it down. 595 00:35:03,470 --> 00:35:06,540 [Narrator] Zack has no choice but to abort his mission. 596 00:35:09,476 --> 00:35:12,312 And it could be weeks before Little Diomede 597 00:35:12,412 --> 00:35:15,382 receives its medicines and supplies. 598 00:35:31,832 --> 00:35:34,734 [thrilling music] 599 00:35:36,037 --> 00:35:37,704 [Narrator] Pilot Captain Seth Koester 600 00:35:37,804 --> 00:35:39,540 is working against the clock 601 00:35:39,640 --> 00:35:42,242 to complete a simulated rescue mission. 602 00:35:43,143 --> 00:35:45,178 But in powerful Arctic winds, 603 00:35:45,278 --> 00:35:47,347 he's struggling to hold a hover. 604 00:35:47,447 --> 00:35:51,351 And the team medic is spinning 40 feet above the ground. 605 00:35:53,920 --> 00:35:56,957 Worst case scenario, they would be cutting the hoist cable. 606 00:35:57,057 --> 00:35:58,225 We'll see somebody drop. 607 00:36:01,061 --> 00:36:02,930 [suspensive music] 608 00:36:03,030 --> 00:36:04,264 [Narrator] To stop the wind 609 00:36:04,365 --> 00:36:06,399 from pushing the chopper sideways, 610 00:36:06,500 --> 00:36:09,269 the pilot turns to face it head on. 611 00:36:14,841 --> 00:36:17,844 [Narrator] To pass their combat zone readiness test, 612 00:36:17,944 --> 00:36:19,847 they have to land the medic, 613 00:36:19,947 --> 00:36:21,915 hoist him back up with his patient, 614 00:36:22,015 --> 00:36:23,683 and get back to base. 615 00:36:25,652 --> 00:36:28,154 [Narrator] And they only have 22 minutes left. 616 00:36:43,203 --> 00:36:47,507 [tense music] 617 00:36:48,943 --> 00:36:51,245 [Narrator] Flying debris from the downdraft 618 00:36:51,345 --> 00:36:54,215 could cause injuries to patients on the ground. 619 00:36:54,815 --> 00:36:57,751 So the crew orbit the RV while the medic assesses 620 00:36:57,851 --> 00:37:00,720 the patient and preps them for the hoist. 621 00:37:02,656 --> 00:37:03,890 Test stop 491. 622 00:37:07,361 --> 00:37:08,729 [Narrator] For the extraction, 623 00:37:08,829 --> 00:37:11,932 the Black Hawk has to be brought back into a hover... 624 00:37:13,701 --> 00:37:14,969 [Narrator] ...so Sergeant Priest 625 00:37:15,069 --> 00:37:16,369 can lower the cable. 626 00:37:17,304 --> 00:37:20,241 [tense music] 627 00:37:20,341 --> 00:37:22,842 [Wyatt] The hardest part is when I'm bringing them up. 628 00:37:25,212 --> 00:37:27,948 The worst case scenario would be catching on anything 629 00:37:28,049 --> 00:37:30,184 because then it could possibly snap. 630 00:37:30,284 --> 00:37:32,352 [Narrator] To avoid snagging the line... 631 00:37:33,654 --> 00:37:36,489 [Narrator] ...he adjusts to hoist speed of ascent. 632 00:37:38,224 --> 00:37:43,296 [music swelling] 633 00:37:49,637 --> 00:37:50,971 [Narrator] They're en route to base, 634 00:37:51,071 --> 00:37:53,407 well inside the one-hour deadline. 635 00:37:53,507 --> 00:37:55,475 But the decision on whether this crew 636 00:37:55,575 --> 00:37:59,179 made the grade is up to the supervising captain. 637 00:38:01,014 --> 00:38:02,083 Excellent timing. 638 00:38:02,183 --> 00:38:03,617 And I think if he had actually been injured, 639 00:38:03,717 --> 00:38:06,453 we would have had a very successful recovery. 640 00:38:06,553 --> 00:38:10,123 [Narrator] This medevac crew is combat zone ready. 641 00:38:13,560 --> 00:38:15,362 [rock music] 642 00:38:15,462 --> 00:38:16,897 [Seth] It's incredibly important 643 00:38:16,997 --> 00:38:18,832 to do this training regularly 644 00:38:18,932 --> 00:38:21,168 because you may be familiar with it, 645 00:38:21,268 --> 00:38:23,337 but until you become proficient with it 646 00:38:23,437 --> 00:38:24,772 will you have successful missions 647 00:38:24,872 --> 00:38:26,373 for a real-world patient. 648 00:38:26,473 --> 00:38:29,143 And that's what we're all about for medevac. 649 00:38:29,243 --> 00:38:30,544 [Laura] I never want anybody to get hurt, 650 00:38:30,644 --> 00:38:32,980 but if we have the opportunity to be there 651 00:38:33,080 --> 00:38:34,514 to save a person's life 652 00:38:34,614 --> 00:38:35,816 and it has to be a hoist mission, 653 00:38:35,916 --> 00:38:37,150 we're very comfortable doing it. 654 00:38:41,588 --> 00:38:44,491 [suspensive electronic music] 655 00:38:46,326 --> 00:38:47,861 [Narrator] At Nome Airport, 656 00:38:47,961 --> 00:38:50,197 Pilot Zack Ard has now been waiting 657 00:38:50,297 --> 00:38:52,866 four days for ice fog to clear. 658 00:38:52,966 --> 00:38:55,336 It's quite dangerous if the aircraft ices up 659 00:38:55,436 --> 00:38:58,071 and the rotor blades quit producing lift. 660 00:38:58,305 --> 00:39:00,274 [Narrator] Fifteen hundred pounds of cargo 661 00:39:00,374 --> 00:39:02,976 for the tiny island of Little Diomede... 662 00:39:05,345 --> 00:39:07,615 [Narrator] ...is still piled in the cabin. 663 00:39:07,715 --> 00:39:09,917 If people don't get their medicine, 664 00:39:10,017 --> 00:39:13,420 that can be a very dangerous situation. 665 00:39:15,722 --> 00:39:18,659 [electronic music] 666 00:39:18,759 --> 00:39:19,793 [Narrator] But today... 667 00:39:19,893 --> 00:39:24,532 They're reporting five statute miles of visibility. 668 00:39:24,932 --> 00:39:27,667 I think we're bumping up to six miles now, 669 00:39:27,767 --> 00:39:29,669 so we might get this done today. 670 00:39:30,370 --> 00:39:31,438 [Narrator] ...weather reports 671 00:39:31,539 --> 00:39:33,908 finally show conditions improving. 672 00:39:34,408 --> 00:39:37,811 We can pull the aircraft out and hit the road. 673 00:39:39,412 --> 00:39:40,981 [trip-hop music] 674 00:39:41,081 --> 00:39:44,418 [Narrator] From Nome, the journey to Little Diomede 675 00:39:44,518 --> 00:39:49,522 is a 134-mile flight northwest across the Bering Sea. 676 00:39:50,791 --> 00:39:52,826 [folk country music] 677 00:39:52,926 --> 00:39:55,061 [Narrator] At 9:22 am... 678 00:40:02,903 --> 00:40:05,806 [Narrator] ...the twin 900-shaft horsepower engines 679 00:40:05,906 --> 00:40:08,308 power up to spin the rotors... 680 00:40:10,277 --> 00:40:13,647 [Narrator] ...to 324 RPM for takeoff. 681 00:40:18,919 --> 00:40:23,857 [country rock music] 682 00:40:38,839 --> 00:40:42,776 [Narrator] As the Bell 412 climbs to 1,500 feet... 683 00:40:50,618 --> 00:40:53,220 [Narrator] ...visibility is worse than expected. 684 00:41:02,696 --> 00:41:05,065 [Narrator] The further out to sea Zack flies, 685 00:41:05,165 --> 00:41:08,602 the greater the risk, so he hugs the coastline. 686 00:41:29,156 --> 00:41:31,125 [Narrator] Before he reaches open water 687 00:41:31,225 --> 00:41:33,593 at the end of the Port Clarence Peninsula... 688 00:41:36,830 --> 00:41:38,198 [Narrator] ...the weather breaks. 689 00:41:43,270 --> 00:41:47,341 And Zack grabs the opportunity to head across the frozen ocean 690 00:41:47,441 --> 00:41:49,075 for Little Diomede. 691 00:42:00,287 --> 00:42:03,557 [Narrator] Half an hour later, the island comes into sight. 692 00:42:11,932 --> 00:42:15,602 [tense music] 693 00:42:25,946 --> 00:42:28,415 [Narrator] On final approach to Little Diomede, 694 00:42:28,515 --> 00:42:30,283 Zack hits weather trouble. 695 00:42:36,991 --> 00:42:38,358 [Narrator] High winds blowing around 696 00:42:38,458 --> 00:42:41,195 the island's 1,500-foot-high cliffs 697 00:42:41,295 --> 00:42:43,630 are buffeting the helicopter. 698 00:42:45,132 --> 00:42:47,735 [Narrator] And the only place where it can land safely 699 00:42:47,835 --> 00:42:50,170 is the hard ice helipad. 700 00:42:51,672 --> 00:42:54,975 To avoid missing it, Zack changes course... 701 00:42:56,510 --> 00:42:58,178 [Narrator] ...approaches from the south 702 00:42:58,278 --> 00:43:00,347 to minimize the impact of the wind... 703 00:43:03,851 --> 00:43:06,052 ...and land safely. 704 00:43:06,587 --> 00:43:09,055 [upbeat country music] 705 00:43:15,195 --> 00:43:16,797 [Narrator] Villagers gather to collect 706 00:43:16,897 --> 00:43:18,798 their supplies and medicines. 707 00:43:21,001 --> 00:43:23,069 But Zack can't hang around. 708 00:43:23,770 --> 00:43:25,305 To protect the chopper's engine 709 00:43:25,405 --> 00:43:27,741 from seizing up in the freezing temperatures, 710 00:43:27,841 --> 00:43:29,410 he keeps the rotors spinning. 711 00:43:30,077 --> 00:43:32,412 So as soon as his cargo's unloaded... 712 00:43:35,316 --> 00:43:37,384 [Narrator] ...he heads back to Nome. 713 00:43:37,952 --> 00:43:39,954 [inspirational music] 714 00:43:40,054 --> 00:43:41,388 [Zack] Fantastic day. 715 00:43:41,488 --> 00:43:44,791 We're hoping that the weather would clear up, 716 00:43:44,891 --> 00:43:45,892 and it sure did. 717 00:43:45,992 --> 00:43:48,362 And we were able to get the mission complete. 718 00:43:48,462 --> 00:43:50,397 Everybody on Diomede was very happy 719 00:43:50,497 --> 00:43:52,299 to see the helicopter arrive. 720 00:44:08,515 --> 00:44:15,155 [rock music] 721 00:44:34,508 --> 00:44:37,177 ♪ MTV ♪