On the western edge of Kauai, Hawaii, the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) serves as a cornerstone of the U.S. military’s advanced training operations. At the heart of PMRF operations is CHI Aviation, whose Sikorsky S-61 helicopters and experienced air crews play a crucial role in ensuring the success of these exercises. HeliOps visited with

Spanning more than 42,000 square miles of controlled airspace and over 1,100 square miles of underwater range, PMRF offers the U.S. Navy a unique environment to conduct real-world combat training. Among the many critical programs hosted at PMRF, the Sub Commander’s Course and Helicopter Advanced Readiness Program (HARP) are two of the many essential exercises designed to prepare U.S. Navy sailors and aviators for their demanding missions on the high seas.

CHI Aviation’s role goes beyond just providing logistical support. Whether they are deploying torpedoes, recovering high-value targets, or supporting other critical missions, their teams and aircraft are integral to the smooth running of these operations.

PMRF: The World’s Largest Instrumented Multi-Environment Range

The Pacific Missile Range Facility is much more than just a remote training site; it is the largest instrumented weapons range of its kind in the world. With its vast expanses of controlled airspace, massive ocean surface area, and deep underwater range, the PMRF supports large scale military training operations across land, sea, air, and even into space. This makes the facility indispensable for the U.S. military’s testing of missile defense systems, anti-submarine warfare (ASW), and other critical, combined unit exercises.

For Navy crews, the PMRF offers a realistic and secure environment where they can engage in simulated and live-fire exercises gaining valuable experience in deploying advanced military technologies at scale, far from populated or well-traveled areas, allowing the Navy to train without concerns for outside interference.

For CHI, the unique combination of PMRF’s scale and the complexity of its operations presents both challenges and opportunities. Supporting the Sub Commander’s Course, and Helicopter Advanced Readiness Program are key elements for CHI’s contract with the PMRF and successfully working their contract means that CHI’s crews must operate with absolute precision to recover critical assets while also dealing with the often harsh and unpredictable Pacific environment.

Precision Operations at PMRF

The Sub Commander’s Course and Helicopter Advanced Readiness Program (HARP) are two pivotal training programs conducted at the Pacific Missile Range Facility where modern naval warfare comes to life in a dynamic environment that demands technical precision and coordination. The vast scale and sophisticated instrumentation of the PMRF, and it’s ocean weapons range, provide the perfect stage for conducting naval multi-domain warfare training, especially for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) missions. Central to supporting the logistics of these operations are CHI’s S-61s, which serve critical roles in launching, and recovering key assets, such as the “Mark” (MK) 30 targets, and recovering MK48 and MK54 practice torpedoes.

Sub Commander's Course: Simulated Full-Scale Submarine Warfare

The Sub Commander’s Course is designed to prepare submarine commanders and crews for the complexities of real-world undersea combat. The course focuses on various types of engagements that simulate real-world warfare scenarios. Fast Attack Submarines, Guided Missile Submarines, and Ballistic Missile Submarines, also called “Boomers,” attend the Sub Commander’s Course to conduct training missions to detect, track and engage surface and subsurface threats using advanced sonar and weapon systems, all under the close scrutiny of the range’s sophisticated monitoring systems.

A core component of the two-week Sub Commander’s Course is the use of MK 48 torpedoes, in live-fire engagements with simulated enemy targets. At around 20 feet in length and weighing nearly 3,000 pounds, the MK 48 is an advanced, autonomous torpedo that uses active and passive sonar to track and destroy ocean going targets whether that target is a surface ship, or another submarine. Utilizing a “crawl, walk, run” approach; after spending the first few days practicing the detection, tracking and simulated engagement of targets, in the final days of these exercises, the submarines will actually launch practice MK 48 torpedoes at their designated targets, just as they would in a real combat scenario. This entire course is designed to sharpen the submarine commander’s management of their vessel and hone critical decision-making skills under pressure, giving commanders and their crews valuable experience that will directly transfer to real-world situations.

After each practice MK 48, is fired and has completed its shortened intercept run, the torpedo floats up to the ocean’s surface for recovery. This is when CHI launches one of their S-61s to recover the torpedoes so they can be used in future exercises.

“Fish in the Water,” Mk 48 Recovery

Recovering a MK 48 torpedo from the open ocean is a demanding task requiring both precision flying skills and effective communication between crew members. When a practice torpedo surfaces out on the range, CHI receives a call from the Range Control Office that there is a “fish in the water.” CHI’s ready crew then boards their ‘61 and takes-off to recover it. While enroute, the Range Control Officers provide CHI with the exact location of the surfaced torpedo, guiding the helicopter crew to within feet of the floating weapon.

Once on site, the helicopter must hover above the torpedo while the crew lowers a special recovery cage into the water using the aircraft’s modified hoist. To successfully recover the MK 48, the cage must be finessed into alignment with the vertically floating torpedo and once the torpedo is captured, it is then hoisted out of the water. Given the torpedo’s size and weight, maintaining a stable hover is critical, as is crew communication because the crew chief working the cage on the hoist is typically the only crew member with eye on the torpedo and is responsible for verbally directing the pilot’s positioning through out this process.

Though it sounds straight forward, these missions demand meticulous control of the aircraft due to the size and weight of the torpedo, and the ever-changing nature of the elements. Fortunately, the S-61s are very well-suited for this mission, allowing the crew to handle the 3,000-pound load with precision and care. The average recovery mission, from launch to landing back at base, takes about an hour of flight time. Once returned to base, the torpedo is then evaluated and prepared for reconditioning to be reused in future exercises.

HARP: Helicopter Advanced Readiness Program

In addition to weapon recoveries during the Sub Commander’s Course, the other core mission for CHI at the PMRF is supporting target launches and equipment recoveries during the Helicopter Advanced Readiness Program. HARP is a training evolution designed for Navy helicopter crews to prepare them for real world operations in both ASW and surface warfare scenarios. During HARP, the MH-60R, “Romeo,” Seahawk with its sophisticated sonar, radar, and specialized weapons systems are the focus for the exercise. This naval variant of the battle proven Black Hawk helicopters scours the ocean detecting, tracking and engaging threats using a combination of radar, sonar, sonobuoys and lightweight torpedoes. This is where CHI Aviation’s S-61s play a vital support role by launching and recovering the MK 30 targets along with any MK 54 lightweight torpedoes which are both key elements in conducting live-fire ASW training.

Based on the MK 48 torpedo. the MK 30 ASW Target is a crucial part of the HARP course, serving as a simulated submarine for naval forces to detect, track, and engage. This 2,700-pound target mimics the acoustic and movement characteristics of a real submarine, providing an invaluable tool for training rotary and fixed-wing crews, surface ships, and submarines in coordinated ASW exercises.

Launching the MK 30 is a detailed, time on target sensitive process that begins with CHI’s S-61s transporting the target to a designated launch location, miles out into the ocean on the weapons range. The first fly-over that the crew makes when arriving at the launch site allows them to assess the weather conditions first-hand, especially the sea state. If conditions are too rough, Sea State 4 or greater, then the mission may be scrubbed and rescheduled or the launch location may be moved several miles away in the search of calmer seas. When the decision to commit to the MK 30 launch is made, the Launch Control Box (LCB) in the back of the S-61 is powered up by the crew chief.




Connected to the MK 30 via a quick release umbilical, the LCB allows the MK 30 target to calibrate itself to a precise predetermined heading. This ensures that while the target is in the water, it follows the pre-programmed course for the next four to six hours. Having just under ten minutes of internal power with which to use the LCB to calibrate and launch the target, time is of the essence to get the target precisely aligned on the heading, then launched at the requested time and coordinates. As the pilot of the 61 slowly circles back around to the launch coordinates the crew begins lining up the proper heading for the MK 30.

Even when the aircraft’s nose is oriented to the correct heading, the MK 30, which is suspended 30 to 50 feet below the cargo hook, is not often facing the same heading as the 61. Now, it is up to the Crew Chief to talk the pilots into correcting the aircraft’s relative heading to get the MK 30 properly aligned. Skill and communication wins the day in getting things lined up for the drop. Once the settings are calibrated and locked into the MK 30, the crew performs the countdown and releases the target. Upon hitting the water, the MK 30 deploys it’s towed array, and immediately begins on its pre-programmed mission profile, moving through the water as if it were an enemy submarine trying to evade detection. Now, it’s time for the CHI crew to head back to base and wait for the next launch or recovery.

Mk 30 Recovery: A Complex and Technical Operation

Once the target has completed its run, and floats up to the surface, the S-61 launches again from the island and is guided to the Mk 30’s position for the recovery. Recovering the Mk 30 target after its mission is generally the most technically complicated type of recovery that the CHI air crews make. The Mk 30 is equipped with a 200-foot-long towed array that must also be secured before the target can be safely lifted from the water.



Once the 61 arrives at the location, CHI’s crews begin to recover the MK 30 target, in a manner very similar to the recovery process of the MK 48 torpedo, following the guidance instructions from the crew chief. However, the MK 30’s towed array, must also be wrangled and secured by the crew chief with grappling hooks. While the recovery process may sound straight forward, wind and sea conditions make these evolutions anything but easy. Especially in rough seas, the array can drift and become difficult to reach, and the target itself can seem to want to go anywhere but into the cage as it’s tossed around by the waves. Once CHI’s crew has secured the Mk 30 and its array, the helicopter can lift the entire 3,200-pound load from the water.

“One of our pilots said it's like having Ray Charles standing next to a washing machine on agitate with a toothpick trying to fish a cheerio out, while someone else is explaining to him how to do it.” Pilot Adam Schultz remarked, “That's essentially what's going on. Because the pilots can't see what's going on. We're out there in the washing machine, and we're trying to explain to them which direction to go, up, down, left, right to make the catch.”

Communication is key to the recovery process, the pilot must maintain a steady hover while making precision positional adjustments following guidance from the Crew Chief who then also works to secure the array, all while the non-flying pilot is running communications with Range Control and calling out instrument readings to the pilot. The demanding attention to detail, and concise communication required means that everyone on the aircraft must be on the same page. Even small errors in aircraft positioning or worsening weather conditions can lead to failed recoveries, making this a particularly delicate operation.

Navigating the Challenges of Weather and Sea Conditions

The Pacific Ocean surrounding PMRF creates a unique set of environmental challenges for CHI’s pilots and crew chiefs. The trade winds and shear lines around Kauai can shift dramatically within hours, making the conditions for helicopter operations unpredictable. Offshore flights can take crews up to 45 miles out to sea, where the weather can turn from calm to 40-knot winds in the blink of an eye. Even the sea conditions themselves vary from gentle seas to wind whipped whitecaps or large swells, each compounding condition adding its own twist on the way the pilot must handle the aircraft.



“We’re often flying with 3,000 pounds hanging below us, dodging rain showers on the way back in,” said Mike Branco, CHI’s Program Manager and Lead Pilot. Such conditions demand both technical skill and adaptability from CHI’s teams, to ensure that every mission is conducted safely despite the challenges posed by the environment.

To help ensure the success and safety of each mission, CHI’s crews rely heavily on their well-practiced CRM - a system of task and communications delegation where the pilots depend on the other crewmembers in the cockpit and in the back of the aircraft to help manage the load, monitor sea states, and communicate clearly through ever changing conditions. “Especially when the sea states are high, the wind and waves are big, and the equipment is heavy. It’s all about communication and trust,” added CHI Pilot, Kurt Ventura. In such a dynamic environment, despite meticulous pre-flight planning, and access to real-time weather data, Mother Nature can always offer surprises and changes often occur during the flight.

Experience and Expertise

CHI Aviation’s contract at PMRF requires a very specialized set of skills from all involved in aircraft operations, these are not tasks for junior pilots or maintainers. Many of CHI’s personnel have thousands of flight hours, with backgrounds ranging from military to civilian roles that involve high-stakes missions. "Nobody here is a young new pilot… we don’t hire that way, and it’s for a good reason,” explained CHI, Pilot Chris Currier.

Combined, the aircraft and crews on this contract log an average of 250 flight hours per year, a significant amount given the complexity and intensity of their missions, with much of that time spent doing medium to heavy lift operations in less-than-ideal weather conditions, dozens of miles off shore. Tasking highly experienced crews for this contract ensures that every mission is conducted with the utmost efficiency, precision, and safety, supporting the Navy’s training missions.

“Because we’re doing such high-skill, high-stakes work, our proficiency comes from experience,” added Currier. This level of skill and familiarity with the challenging conditions at PMRF enables CHI’s crews to handle the unpredictable weather and sea conditions, as well as the dynamic nature of the exercises they support.

It’s impossible to eliminate all risk involved, so risk mitigation is the name of the game. “Our job is to make sure we plan for those risks and execute with precision, to get the job done,” explained Schultz. The team’s experience, use of CRM, and careful planning ensures every mission is conducted with the same level of care, coordination, and professionalism.

The Venerable S-61: The Right Tool for the Job

Equally integral to the success of CHI Aviation’s missions are their Sikorsky S-61 helicopters, a reliable workhorse known around the world for its heavy-lift capabilities and robustness in maritime environments. While the S-61 may not have the cutting-edge electronics found in newer aircraft, its steam-gauge cockpit and mechanical simplicity make it particularly well-suited for operating day in and day out in the climate of the Hawaiian Islands.

Despite the aircraft’s age, its rugged design and mechanical reliability make it a perfect fit for the challenging conditions at PMRF. As Schultz pointed out, "In an environment like this, less is more. Electronics are prone to failure out here. The S-61 doesn’t rely on complex systems—it relies on robust engineering." Additionally, The S-61’s heavy-lift capabilities provide CHI with the reliable performance and capabilities needed to perform not only their primary missions, but many other types of missions that they may be tasked with by the command. “With the ranges we have to fly and the weights we carry, I can’t think of another civilian aircraft that can do this mission right now,” added Branco.

While supporting the Sub Commander’s Course and HARP are the primary components of CHI’s contract at PMRF, the skill and versatility of the crews and their helicopters are further showcased through their involvement in several other critical missions at the facility. These include recovering BQMs (missiles used in ship missile training exercises), VIP transport, and even firefighting missions when needed. CHI’s S-61s are also essential in the support of environmental initiatives including surveys, where they are utilized to monitor marine mammals and other protected species in the area.

CHI’s Continued Support of PMRF

While it may seem odd at first, for civilian operated, legacy aircraft  to play such an integral role at such a high-tech facility dedicated to the development, training and evolution of naval multi-domain warfighting, CHI’s fleet of Sikorsky S-61s and the highly trained crews that fly and maintain them have demonstrated time and again that they have the experience, technical expertise and adaptability needed to support some of the Navy’s most complex training operations.

“We’ve built a team here that is capable of handling anything that comes our way,” said Schultz. “With the right equipment and the right people, we make sure that every mission, whether it’s HARP or anything else, is completed safely and efficiently.”

With each successful launch and recovery mission, CHI Aviation proves that their role is more than just about logistics - it’s about ensuring that the future of the United States Navy’s anti-submarine warfare capabilities and multi-domain warfighting dominance continue to remain the strongest, most capable, and mission-ready in the world.