For the air crew of a Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopter based at Air Station Humboldt Bay, Wednesday morning was supposed to be geared toward annual performance evaluations focused on search-and-rescue operations, but by 9:15 one helicopter crew was en route to an actual distress call.

The fishing boat Midori called the Coast Guard just before 9 a.m. to report the boat was on fire and had been abandoned. A search-and-rescue helicopter was dispatched to the scene as was a 47-foot motor lifeboat. Crews found a second fishing boat, the Pacific Bully, had picked up the crew members of the Midori.

It was a standard operation for the search-and-rescue crews of Coast Guard Sector Humboldt Bay. While actual search-and-rescue operations were underway, a second helicopter crew — aircraft commander, co-pilot, flight mechanic and rescue swimmer — along with evaluators from the Coast Guard Aviation Training Center, Mobile, Alabama, were preparing for morning flights as part of their annual evaluations.

“They are doing the pattern flights this morning,” said Cmdr. Brendan Hilleary, the response department head. “This afternoon they will be evaluated on in-flight emergencies and then search-and-rescue operations with the swimmer in the water.”

The evaluations are performed to ensure search-and-rescue air crews perform to the standards set by the Coast Guard. According to Hilleary, it takes a pilot a year and a half to earn his wings and another two to three years on station to become an aircraft commander.

“It’s a very important two weeks for the flight crews,” he said as he led a guided and up-close tour of the aircraft facilities.

Three crew members were in a pre-flight briefing while ground crews performed maintenance on a helicopter inside the hangar.

“The inspectors are looking for a few things, primarily safety and effectiveness and to ensure we operate to fleet standards,” he said.

Hilleary said another key component to the annual evaluations is to ensure training is uniform across the fleet. That allows the integration of Coast Guard personnel from various stations to work together when dispatched to operations outside of their normal duties.

The search-and-rescue crews are evaluated individually and as a whole. Pilots undergo a written exam and a flight exam; rescue swimmers take a specialized physical test; flight mechanics are evaluated on their knowledge and skills.

“They will use differing scenarios to test the pilots and crew members, and those instructors look at how well you do your job and how well you coordinate as a team,” Hilleary said. “They look at the process and for any ways it can be improved”

Hilleary said that the evaluations will often find that one station has a way of performing a task that can be translated to the rest of the fleet because of its effectiveness. A report is compiled at the end of the two weeks of evaluations and given to the station commander to act on any recommendations.

Search-and-rescue crews work a 24-hour shift while ground maintenance crews work a normal day schedule with a second shift assigned at night.

The goal is to be prepared.

“We want to ensure we are flying safely and effectively,” said Hilleary, who was dressed in a flight suit and carrying a freshly brewed cup of coffee. “They are looking for process improvements and if the evaluators see something the station or crew does well they will make a note of that, it could be of interest to others.”

The air crew evaluations began Monday and will mean an increase in air traffic over the coast and the testing runs through April 27.

Hilleary said the owners of the Midori stayed with the vessel until the fire was put out and efforts could be made to salvage it.

Dan Squier can be reached at 707-441-0528.