XN000022-1980-03-22 — Page 3

2

SATURDAY, MARCH 22, 1980

WITH A FLEET OF SIX AIRCRAFT - A TWIN-ENGINED CESSNA 404 TITAN, A TWIN-ENGINED BRITTEN-NORMAN ISLANDER, TWO SCOTTISH AVIATION BULLDOG TRAINERS AND TWO ALOUETTE MARK 111 HELICOPTERS - RHKAAF PILOTS AND CREWMEN PROVIDED MANY OTHER FLYING TASKS DURING THE YEAR.

THESE INCLUDED ROUTINE SATURDAY MORNING FLYING DOCTOR AND FLYING DENTIST SERVICES, POST-TYPHOON RECONNAISSANCE SERVICES, FLYING TRAINING FOR AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS OF THE CIVIL AVIATION DEPARTMENT, AND AERIAL SURVEYS AND PHOTOGRAPHY FOR MAP-MAKING AS WELL AS DEVELOPMENT PLANNING BY THE CROWN LAND AND SURVEY OFFICE.

LAST YEAR, THE FORCE SAW EXPANSION IN MANY AREAS WITH THE OPENING OF A NEW HEADQUARTERS IN MARCH ON THE KOWLOON BAY RECLAMATION.

THE NEW HEADQUARTERS, WHICH INCORPORATES MODERN SECURITY EQUIPMENT, A HELIPORT, AIRCRAFT SERVICING BAYS AND ADMINISTRATION ACCOMMODATION, MEANS HONG KONG'S OWN AIR FORCE+ HAS BECOME FULLY INDEPENDENT IN AIR OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE.

+UPON RECEIVING AN EMERGENCY CALL DURING NORMAL WORKING HOURS, AIRCREW AT THE HEADQUARTERS CAN GET A HELICOPTER AIRBORNE WITHIN FIVE MINUTES AND ARRIVE AT ANY REGULAR LANDING SITE ANYWHERE IN THE TERRITORY WITHIN 20 MINUTES AFTER TAKE-OFF, MR SHAWCROSS SAID. OVERNIGHT, THIS RESPONSE TIME IS EXTENDED BY ABOUT 20 MINUTES.

IN AUGUST LAST YEAR, WITH THE DELIVERY OF A TWIN-ENGINED TITAN AIRCRAFT, THE FORCE HAS STRENGTHENED ITS AERIAL SURVEILLANCE AS WELL AS SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS AT SEA.

FURTHER ORDERS HAVE BEEN PLACED FOR THREE NEW HELICOPTERS 365-C DAUPHIN MARK 2S - FROM FRANCE TO REPLACE THE ALOUETTE HELICOPTERS NOW BEING USED.

THE NEW HELICOPTERS ARE 14-SEAT, TWIN-ENGINED AIRCRAFT AND ARE EXPECTED TO BE DELIVERED IN JUNE THIS YEAR.

THEY ARE FASTER AND HAVE A MUCH GREATER RANGE THAN THE EXISTING ONES AND THEIR INTRODUCTION WILL WIDEN THE SCOPE OF RHKAAF OPERATIONS.

13