11/29/10 Bay Lake Search & Rescue?

[poohj80]

Currently at BLT and there has been a helicopter and several boats circling the lake as if they are on a search a rescue mission. I'm hoping it's just a drill but it's been going on for quite awhile and none of the CM downstairs know anything about it. Curious if anyone on here has heard anything?

 

[spiceycat]

have not heard anything.

 

[hopare]

We were there a few weeks ago and saw a lot of helicopters too. My husband said they were tours.

 

[JimMIA]

If there was some kind of SAR going on, the helicopter would a) have been a marked law enforcement or fire department helicopter easily distinguishable from regular tourist or news helicopters, and b) would probably not have been flying in a circular pattern.

Boats on the lake are normal; boat traffic being diverted away from a particular area would be unusual.

I suspect hotel CM's would be among the last to know...unless there were some emergency which might require either locking-down or evacuating the hotel.

It's also not likely they would do a drill at Bay Lake. There are many other ways to drill, and many other venues. Simulating flying around really accomplishes nothing. Practicing extrications or medical evacuations would be done elsewhere.

 

[poohj80]

Thanks Jim,
The helicopter didn't look like a tourist flight (would have been a boring flight doing circles over Bay Lake). I couldn't read the writing but it was white and red. With several empty boats patroling the waters below rather quickly (like the boats that take guests from MK to Poly or GF) it just seemed odd. Hope it was nothing!

 

[bookwormde]

could very well have been some pilot and/or spotter training and general farmiliarization.
If there had been a live rescue going on (or even an major exercise) you would have seen plenty of ground support and marine rescue personel around the lake.

bookwormde