By George F. Lee, Star-Bulletin
The U.S. Coast Guard spent $130,275 to rescue
the crew of the ICO Global balloon, shown here
after its splashdown off Oahu last week.

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Saving downed
balloonists all in
a day’s work for
Coast Guard

Rescuing people in distress
is what the agency does, and
per public policy, it doesn't
charge the rescued

By Gordon Y.K. Pang
Star-Bulletin

It cost the U.S. Coast Guard $130,275 to rescue the three balloonists aboard the ICO Global craft that fell from the sky into waters 10 miles north of Kahuku Point on Christmas morning.

British tycoon Richard Branson, American millionaire Steve Fossett and Swedish pilot Per Lindstrand wanted to be the first to fly around the world in a balloon.

Branson, the owner of Virgin Airways and Virgin Records, said shortly after his rescue that he intended to pay for his rescue -- if asked.

But as is policy with all legitimate search and rescue missions, the Coast Guard won't be seeking reimbursement from the three men, said David Santos, chief public affairs specialist for the 14th Coast Guard district.

"We really can't do that," Santos said. "It takes (Congressional) legislation to do that. Our mission is to do search and rescue and it's a public service to people in distress in the waters. That's what we do."

He added: "Obviously, we don't get involved in a lot of hot-air balloon rescues, but if the craft is deemed seaworthy or deemed a safe craft and set out to fly over the seas and gets into trouble, they call the Coast Guard and we respond."

The Coast Guard's cost estimates are based on use of equipment and fuel only.

They do not include personnel, who are always on 24-hour standby and "did not get extra money in their pockets to do this," Santos said.

Three aircraft and the 110-foot cutter Washington were dispatched to help with the rescue.

A C-130 reconnaissance plane flew for about 41/2 hours on Christmas Eve when it became "a very real possibility" that the balloon was going to make a crash landing, Santos said. That cost $41,949.

"While it was out there, (the C-130) also provided weather data to help them (the balloonists) get to a safer area," he said.

The C-130 flew 4.3 hours on Christmas Day, which cost $40,085, Santos said.

The two HH-65A Dolphin helicopters, which hoisted the balloonists from the ocean, spent 1.9 and 1.4 hours in the air, and cost $9,829 and $7,242, respectively, he said.

The Coast Guard cutter Washington sped to the open-ocean ditch site and assisted with the recovery. It spent 5.7 hours on the open seas at a cost of $6,840.

The 225-foot buoy tender Kukui, equipped with a crane, was on its way to the scene in the event the balloon capsule could not be opened.

It turned back after receiving word that its services would not be needed, Santos said. That cost $24,330.

Santos noted that despite the publicity and high drama involved with the balloon rescue, it still cost less than the $239,398 spent to help rescue the crew of the fishing vessel Red October earlier this month.

In that incident, the private container ship President Polk scooped up four men aboard Red October amid stormy waters. Two men requiring medical attention were flown via a Dolphin helicopter to Honolulu from 225 miles offshore.

A C-130 flew 21.9 hours in that mission while the chopper spent 7.2 hours in the air, Santos said.