K 香港政府 GIS 新聞處
SUNDAY, JANUARY 23, 1977
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
HECTIC YEAR FOR NICK OF TIME SQUADRON+
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HELICOPTERS OF THE ROYAL HONG KONG AUXILIARY AIR FORCE AFFECTIONATELY KNOWN TO SOME AS THE NICK OF TIME SQUADRON+ HAD A HECTIC 1976 WHEN THEY RESPONDED TO 97 EMERGENCY CALLS IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING NORMAL FLYING SERVICES FOR OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.
A TOTAL OF 89 PATIENTS SUFFERING FROM VARIOUS AILMENTS REQUIRING IMMEDIATE HOSPITAL ATTENTION WERE AIRLIFTED TO HOSPITAL FROM REMOTE AREAS AND OUTLYING ISLANDS, FOUR SEARCH AND RESCUE FLIGHTS TO LOOK FOR LOST OR INJURED PICNICKERS WERE ALSO CARRIED OUT.
ON TWO OCCASIONS DURING THE YEAR - JULY 24 AND AUGUST 21 THE RHKAAF RESPONDED TO THREE CALLS FOR MERCY FLIGHTS EACH DAY, THE HIGHEST NUMBER FOR A DAY IN THE YEAR.
FLT. LT. JOHN SHAWCROSS, ADJUTANT OF THE UNIT, SAID TODAY THAT THE TIME ELEMENT WAS CRUCIAL IN SAVING THE LIFE OF ONE SUFFERING FROM ACUTE ILLNESS OR SERIOUS INJURY IN A PLACE FAR AWAY FROM HOSPITAL.
+DURING WORKING HOURS WHEN ALL OUR PERMANENT STAFF PILOTS AND CREWMEN ARE AT THE BASE, WE CAN GET A HELICOPTER AIRBORNE FIVE MINUTES AFTER RECEIVING A CALL FOR HELP, HE SAID. +THE HELICOPTER CAN ARRIVE AT ANY REGULAR LANDING SITE THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY 20 MINUTES AFTER TAKE OFF AND THE PATIENT CAN USUALLY BE LANDED IN HOSPITAL SOME 40 OR 50 MINUTES AFTER THE CALL FOR HELP WAS FIRST MADE.+
+OUR RESPONSE TIME AT NIGHT IS SLOWER BECAUSE OUR VOLUNTEER PILOTS AND CREWMEN STAND BY AT HOME, BUT WE ARE STILL CONFIDENT OF GETTING ANY PATIENT FROM ANY AREA INTO HOSPITAL AT MOST ONE HOUR AND 15 MINUTES AFTER THE CALL FOR HELP WAS MADE, BUT USUALLY THIS TIME AVERAGES OUT TO BE 50 MINUTES OR SO, + HE SAID.
DURING THE YEAR, A BASE RADIO STATION WAS ESTABLISHED AT KAI TAK AND A REPEATER STATION AT TAI MO SHAN SO THAT ALL AIRCRAFT OF THE UNIT CAN REMAIN IN CONTACT WITH THE OPERATIONS ROOM AT ALL TIMES. ALL THE UNIT'S THREE ALOUETTE HELICOPTERS WERE ALSO RE-EQUIPPED WITH MODERN RADIO AND NAVIGATIONAL AIDS.
+ALL THESE HAVE FURTHER INCREASED OUR EFFICIENCY ESPECIALLY BECAUSE AIRBORNE AIRCRAFT CAN BE QUICKLY CALLED BACK OR DIVERTED TO WHERE HELP IS NEEDED,+ FLT. LT. SHAWCROSS SAID.
/+THIS NEW
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong. Tet: 5-233191
PRH 7