Bell 407 Fire Suppression Training/Bambi Buckets at Jekyll Island.
Real Hero Report | January 2019 | 21
miles of coastline with numerous barrier islands in the southeast,
and many different sceneries in between.
Over the course of the past 40 years, the Unit has grown not
only in size, but has also expanded in the types of missions they
are capable of conducting on a daily basis. Given its size and
the fact Georgia has doubled in population meant the Unit had
to expand as well. The Unit is capable of: marijuana eradication,
others missions.
With times changing, the constant need to upgrade to the
newest and most technologically advanced equipment is essential
the nation to utilize a Safety Management System (SMS) to weigh
more than 40 years in existence, the Unit has evolved from its
humble beginnings with only surplus Bell 47s and a Cessna 182.
(two of which are equipped with FLIR 8500 camera systems), one
Bell 206B3 as an initial training aircraft and backup, and six fully
equipped and mission ready Bell 407s. Four of those platforms
are infrared camera-equipped with two being L3 M12s and the
other being FLIR 230HDs. The newest addition is the twin engine
Bell 429 which is equipped with a hoist to provide a vast array of
capability for the unit.
A unit of this size and caliber would not succeed without a
well-equipped and staffed maintenance department. Currently,
there are four full-time aircraft maintenance technicians based at
the GSP Aviation headquarters at Cobb County’s McCollum Field
in Kennesaw, Georgia. The majority of all maintenance conducted
on the Unit’s 14 Bell helicopters is performed in-house at the
Kennesaw location. All maintenance technicians are licensed
A&P mechanics and several have attended many different training
of six hangars strategically placed across the state in Kennesaw,
Gainesville, Augusta, Albany, Perry, and Reidsville. Other
essential personnel who enable the unit to operate on an around-
(TFOs) and several part-time TFOs who are a mix of state
troopers, who are normally assigned to traditional road duties, as
role as additional crewmembers when needed.
Leadership
The Unit is led by Captain Greg Mercier. Mercier, an Army
veteran and the oldest working trooper in the State, has 31 years
on the job.
Mercier, whose most memorable experiences with the Unit
include working the 1996 Summer Olympics and the G8
Conference held at Sea Island in 2004, is gearing up to assist
the City of Atlanta Police Department in the coordination of
air security for the upcoming Super Bowl LIII to be held at
Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 3.
“We will be there to assist with all air security and provide
assistance to the ground forces,” said Mercier. “We will also
be prepared to provide emergency response should something
come up.”
Mercier, and members of the Unit, have coordinated with other
metro departments and agencies for many months in preparation
for the Super Bowl and all of its surrounding events and
festivities.
Rescue Program and Disaster Response
The Unit implemented its rescue program around 15 years ago.
in Savannah and asked for their assistance,” said Mercier. “They
provided our team with hoist operations training.”
“We then went to the Grand Canyon for short haul training,”
said Mercier. “Short haul rescues differ from using a hoist in that
they involve lowering and lifting team members in and out of a
rescue site.”
The Coast Guard has continued to partner with the Unit over
the years by providing continuing training and support as new
equipment has been purchased.
support to city and county agencies when the need arises.
“We are here to assist any city or county department across the
State. Whether it be a rescue mission or a missing child, we have
standing orders to provide these services,” said Mercier. “There
is no cost to these agencies or any formal approval process on our
end. If there is a need where we can be of help, all it takes is a
phone call to us and we will be there to assist with any legitimate
law enforcement request.”
Mercier was the pilot in the widely publicized 2017 rescue at
Monroe County’s High Falls State Park, where two brothers fell
into the falls. Mercier, along with Crew Chief Trooper Willie
team and heroically saved the life of the older boy.
The Unit takes the lead in operations and coordination of air
support in response to disasters statewide. Whether natural or
man-made, the Unit works directly with GEMA when the need
arises.
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