Air Greenland has operated Sikorsky S-61s in Greenland for over 50 years. Since 2012, it has used its S-61Ns to provide search-and-rescue services under a contract with the Danish government. Greenland’s SAR Responders Air Greenland uses Sikorsky S-61Ns to provide search-and-rescue services across the country’s vast land area. 78 Vertical 911 magazine Story & photos by Neil Dunridge In June 2017, Greenland suffered a major natural disaster when a moun- tain side collapsed into a fjord, creating a tsunami. Directly in its path was Nuugaatsiaq, a small settlement of 84 people. Although some of the force of the wave had dissipated by the time it reached the settlement, the row of houses at the edge of the fjord was swept away, with four people losing their lives. Sadly, hundreds of sled dogs were tied up outside the buildings with no chance of escape — 150 died, and many of the 100 remaining dogs were injured. Crews from Air Greenland Search-and-Rescue (SAR), operating a Sikorsky S-61N from Kangerlussuaq (Søndre Strømfjord), were gathered to assist in searching for survivors and to evacuate the remaining residents and dogs. The mission would become the biggest operation in the company’s 50 years of flying the S-61. Having been briefed by the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) under Joint Arctic Command, the S-61N departed with four pilots — two flying and two on crew rest — along with hoist operators and hoist assistants. Once at Nuugaatsiaq, each crew was on duty for 12 hours a day for nearly a week, supporting the dozens of residents who had been affected by the disaster. In the following week, the crews’ tasking changed from carrying people to dogs, as the residents rounded up all of the surviving animals. Supporting the effort were two Air Greenland Bell 212s and a Danish Navy Westland Lynx, with a Danish military ship providing air traffic services in the fjord.