Grand Canyon National Park has its own helicopter, and is one of only a handful of National Parks with this resource. Many of the National Parks have contract helicopter services, but only a few have their own bird. I think the reasons are obvious, particularly when you consider how inaccessible the Grand Canyon is below the rim. Sure, there are a bunch of trails down into the canyon, and rafting expeditions pass through on the Colorado River almost every day during the summer, but roads are nonexistent.The park helicopter is based right next to our bus yard, and we see it coming and going on an almost daily basis. I'm not familiar with all of the tasks performed by the flight crew of this helicopter, other than rescues, fire related duties, and heavy lifting. Last year, when Patty and Nancy were hiking on the South Kaibab Trail, they came across one of the parks mules that had died on the trail. The only way to remove the animal was by way of the park's helicopter. When for whatever reason, vehicles end up in the canyon, the helicopter is the way that they are extractred. The thing we hear about most, are the medivac services provided by the park helicopter. When a person becomes ill, or is injured in the canyon, the only quick way out is by air.
When arriving for work a couple of days ago, the helicopter was just taking off, and I snapped these pictures.
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