Crestone Needle, September 19, 2020.

The use of helicopters in Search and REscue is dangerous, and Colorado's high elevations and warm summertime temperatures only compounds the dangers for the aviators and rescue crews. The use of a helicopter is limited to rescue those whose injuries that are life, limb, or eyesightthreatening, or when conditions put ground rescuers at significant peril.

The arrival of a helicopter in a search and rescue setting should never be considered an expectation.

It is an exception.