This feature is part of the 2026 Blades of Valor Road Tour, sponsored by Switlik Survival Products— a special series spotlighting outstanding public safety aviation units across North America. Be sure to explore the related podcast episodes and video content linked at the end of the article. Photos by Brent Bundy and Mike Reyno.
On the northwest side of St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport, the constant sound of rotor wash and turbine noise signals the presence of the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Air Station Clearwater.
It is not only the service’s largest air station, but also its busiest — a distinction earned through an operational tempo that rarely slows and a mission set that stretches across thousands of miles of coastline and open ocean.
From its location on Florida’s Gulf Coast, crews launch daily into an area of operations spanning the Gulf of Mexico/America, the Caribbean basin, and the Bahamas. At the same time, the unit maintains a constant B-0 search-and-rescue (SAR) response for the state of Florida, ready to launch within 30 minutes. It is a balance of local readiness and global reach that defines the station’s identity.
Mission without boundaries
Air Station Clearwater’s primary responsibility is SAR, a mission that averages more than 300 cases annually. But SAR is only part of the story.
The unit also supports counter-narcotics operations, maritime law enforcement, logistics, and disaster response — often in coordination with multiple domestic and international partners.
Key to those missions is Lt. Cmdr. Scott Kellerman, the station’s rotary-wing assistant operations officer and chief pilot for the Sikorsky MH-60. A former U.S. Navy helicopter pilot, he transitioned to the Coast Guard in 2016 after nine years of global operations.
Kellerman has served tours at Clearwater, as well as in Kodiak, Alaska, and his experience across two dramatically different operating environments gives him a unique perspective on what makes the Clearwater mission distinct.
“We maintain, at a minimum, one MH-60 helicopter on that 30-minute response posture,” Kellerman said. “And the area of responsibility that aircraft can support is essentially the entire Southeast district — Florida, the Gulf, the Atlantic down through the Bahamas, and into the Caribbean.”
That reach is made possible by the station’s fleet of seven MH-60T Jayhawk helicopters and four HC-27J Spartan fixed-wing aircraft. The Jayhawk, a maritime variant of the Black Hawk family, forms the backbone of the Coast Guard’s long-range rescue capability.
“Most of these aircraft came off the production line in the early 1990s,” Kellerman noted. “While it’s an older airframe, it has evolved significantly over the years with glass cockpits, navigation upgrades, and continued improvements to sensors and systems.”
Complementing the rotary-wing fleet, the HC-27J Spartans provide long-range surveillance, logistical support, and additional SAR capability, often deploying life-saving equipment such as rafts and survival supplies.
Tropical watch
One of Clearwater’s defining features is its permanent forward deployment in the Caribbean. As part of Operation Bahamas, Turks and Caicos (OPBAT), the station maintains a continuous MH-60 presence in Great Inagua, supporting a tri-national effort alongside U.S. and regional partners.
“It’s a counter-drug law enforcement mission, but we also do a significant amount of search-and-rescue down there,” Kellerman said. “There’s a lot of cruise ship traffic, commercial shipping, and remote maritime activity. We’re often the only asset capable of reaching those cases.”
This forward presence extends the station’s operational footprint hundreds of miles offshore, reinforcing its pivotal role in maritime safety and security.
Interagency coordination
Operating in an area with some of the highest aviation activity in the country, Air Station Clearwater works closely with a wide array of partners, from local sheriff’s offices to federal agencies.
“It’s very good,” Kellerman said of interagency cooperation. “We have strong relationships with local law enforcement, fire-rescue units, and other aviation operators. We train together regularly and maintain common procedures and communication standards.”
That collaboration becomes especially important during large-scale events, where coordination between agencies can mean the difference between life and death. Departmental integration and rapid response are critical in these situations, and the USCG ensures the necessary resources are available at all times.
In harm’s way
Few missions define Clearwater’s operational identity more than hurricane response. The unit has responded to major storms year after year, deploying crews across the region to conduct rescues and support recovery efforts.
“This unit has seen a lot,” Kellerman said. “The 2024 hurricane season was devastating; we had three feet of water in our hangar from a storm. Going back just 10 years, we’ve responded to a named storm almost every year.”
From rooftop rescues during Hurricane Harvey to evacuations in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, Clearwater crews have repeatedly demonstrated their ability to operate in the most challenging conditions.
Training never stops
Despite its operational tempo, Clearwater’s role as a training hub remains central. With approximately 500 personnel — about 85% on active duty — the station trains and develops Coast Guard aviators at every stage of their careers.
A typical MH-60 SAR crew consists of two pilots, a flight mechanic who also serves as hoist operator, and an aviation survival technician (AST), better known as a rescue swimmer.
“That’s our standard SAR crew complement,” Kellerman explained. “And we’re constantly training, whether it’s hoisting, instrument work, or interagency operations.”
On a typical day, the station launches around six sorties, most of them dedicated to training rather than active missions. That constant cycle of instruction and evaluation ensures crews are prepared for the unpredictable nature of real-world operations.
While Clearwater offers a high operational tempo and extensive flight hours, it also presents unique challenges, particularly when compared to harsher environments like Alaska.
“This is a great place to cut your teeth,” Kellerman said. “You get a lot of experience and comfort with the aircraft. But you’re not always dealing with the same level of environmental challenges, such as icing or extreme seas.”
To bridge that gap, the Coast Guard emphasizes advanced training and exposure to more demanding conditions elsewhere, preparing pilots for any assignment.
A legacy of support
In 2026, Air Station Clearwater celebrates the 50th anniversary of its current location at St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport, though its roots in the region extend even further back.
“The hangars we operate out of have been here since 1976,” Kellerman said. “That’s when we transitioned to this facility to support larger aircraft like the C-130.”
While aviation operations define the unit, Air Station Clearwater also serves as a fully developed support hub for Coast Guard personnel throughout the Tampa Bay region. The base includes an award-winning galley, medical clinic, and exchange, all of which support hundreds of service members assigned to units across the area.
Over five decades, the station has grown alongside the Coast Guard’s aviation mission, expanding its capabilities while remaining firmly focused on saving lives.
Answering the call
From routine medevacs offshore to complex, multi-agency rescues and hurricane response, Air Station Clearwater operates in a world where every sortie carries consequence.
“We’re responding to a case a day, on average,” Kellerman said. “That’s the reality of what we do.”
It’s a mission defined by readiness, reinforced by training, and executed across thousands of miles of ocean and coastline. At Clearwater, it never stops.
Sponsored by Switlik Survival Products, this feature is a part of the 2026 Blades of Valor Road Tour — a journey across the public safety aviation community, spotlighting the people, aircraft, and missions shaping the field.
For an inside perspective on the USCG Air Station Clearwater, tune in to a special Hangar Z Podcast episode recorded with the crew (Part 1 and Part 2), and explore a companion video featuring a full Sikorsky MH-60T walkaround.
Still to come, we’ll be taking a closer look at the department’s maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) program in an upcoming episode of the Vertical MRO Podcast. Stay tuned for more from the Blades of Valor Road Tour, and visit our dedicated hub for additional unit profiles, videos, and podcasts.
