In this Issue:

Issue 57 features the Canadian Coastguard Pacific MLBs by Ivan Hansen, UK Coastguard’s Rope Rescue Systems by Rich Hackwell, Autolock Descenders by Greg (Church) Churchman, Market Guide to Airboats, Reed Thorne's final installment of Minimalist Rescue Archetypes, Nerve Blockers by Jez Hunter, Multi-Point Pre-Equalized Anchoring Systems by Albuquerque & Ouray MR teams, Heavy Vehicle Extrication By London Fire Brigade, In-Water Rescue Using Helos by Sean Johnson, USAR/Tactical Robots plus Gear Reviews on the Arachnipod Edge System, 511 Light, DMM & Rock Exotica Rope Hardware and Rite Rescue Stretcher.

•Like hovercraft in issue 56, airboats of all types have a role to play in certain environments and with the US Coastguard investing heavily in new airboats for the northern states we try to discern where those roles actually are. Our Market Guide to Water Rescue Craft features 25 different rescue models.

•Sean Johnson provides part 1 of his Trends in Helicopter Utilization for Inland Water SAR incidents - beginning with Command and Control which turned out to be quite a contentious article.

•Reed Thorne is thankful for small mercies in finally reaching the end of his epic series of Minimalist Rope Rescue Archetypes. In this final installment we provide a cut-out mini guide to all 7 MRAs

•Greg Churchman examines the merits of a wide range of autolock descenders in being able to lower and belay a rescue load with test results for 12 different descenders.

• Our most technical article this issue is on Multi-Point Pre-Equalized Anchoring Systems from six very learned lads from Albuqueque and Ouray Mountain Rescue Teams. Get your calculators out for this excellent follow up to our article S.E.A.s A Myth way back in issue 37.

•Gear Reviews this issue include an extensive review of the Arachnipod Edge Management System from Ferno Australia. When they found out we liked the Arachnipod, Ferno Oz booked a centre spread pullout so there should be no shortage of information for anyone interested! Other Gear Reviews in issue 57 include the 511 Tactical’s Light for Life rechargeable torch which charges in an amazing 90 seconds and a spread of hardware items from DMM and Rock Exotica centring on DMM’s Hubs and Rock’s swivel ‘Biners. We also review books; River Rescue by Slim Ray and Les Bechdel and Paul Auerbach’s Medicine for the Outdoors, both are the latest edition in a fine dynasty of books

•Our first selection of Remote Operated Vehicles for USAR and tactical operations features QinetiQ and iRobot designs together with some of their subsidiary company models.

•Brian Robinson tells us about two of the devices now in use on and in New York’s Statue of Liberty National Monument

•London Fire Brigade’s Richard Denham and Nick Appleton of the LFB’s Rescue Training Centre continue with their excellent series on Extrications involving Heavy vehicles/trucks.

• Our medical series has budding neuro-surgeon Jez Hunter explaining why Nerve Blockers could be of interest to rescuers.