XN000022-1983-05-15 — Page 8

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SUNDAY, MAY 15, 1983

AUXILIARY AIR FORCE PLAYING MAJOR COMMUNITY ROLE

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THE ROYAL HONG KONG AUXILIARY AIR FORCE IS EXPANDING ITS OPERATIONS TO INCLUDE EMERGENCY CASUALTY EVACUATIONS WITHIN THE URBAN AREA.

THE RHKAAF IS NOW BEING CALLED UPON TO CONVEY CASUALTIES AND OTHER EMERGENCY CASES BY HELICOPTER TO HOSPITALS TO BEAT TRAFFIC CONGESTION, SAVING VITAL MINUTES OR EVEN HOURS, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE FORCE SAID.

FOR MANY YEARS, THE RHKAAF HAS PROVIDED A RESCUE AND CASUALTY EVACUATION SERVICE TO THE OUTER ISLANDS AND OTHER REMOTE AREAS INACCESSIBLE TO VEHICLES OR WHERE ROAD TRANSPORT TO HOSPITAL WOULD TAKE TOO MUCH TIME.

THE EXPANSION OF SUCH OPERATIONS INTO THE URBAN AREA IS BEING CARRIED OUT IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE FIRE SERVICES AND OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.

A MAJOR PROBLEM IS THE AVAILABILITY OF SITES AS HELIPADS, THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED. THIS IS SOMETIMES OVERCOME BY THE COMBINED USE OF BOTH AMBULANCES AND HELICOPTERS.

SO FAR, THIS INNOVATIVE OPERATION HAS PROVED TO BE EFFECTIVE AND IS EXPECTED TO BECOME YET ANOTHER OF THE FORCE'S REGULAR FUNCTIONS.

IN LINE WITH ITS GROWING RESPONSIBILITIES, THE RHKAAF HAS OVER THE PAST YEAR INCREASED ITS ESTABLISHMENT OF VOLUNTEERS FROM 116 MEMBERS TO 136.

THE RHKAAF IS A UNIQUE AIR FORCE BECAUSE OF ITS EXTENSIVE INVOLVEMENT IN COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES, IN ADDITION TO ITS SECURITY ROLE.

LAST YEAR, THE FORCE WAS BUSIER THAN EVER, DEPLOYING ITS HELICOPTERS AND FIXED WING AIRCRAFT FOR MORE THAN 320 EMERGENCY FLIGHTS, MOST OF THEM CASUALTY EVACUATIONS OR SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS, OFTEN UNDER HAZARDOUS WEATHER CONDITIONS.

APART FROM THESE ASSIGNMENTS, THE FORCE IS ENGAGED IN TASKS AS DIVERSE AS AERIAL LAND SURVEYING AND MAPPING, PATROLS TO SPOT HARBOUR POLLUTION, COMBATING HILL FIRES, AIR PATROLS TO STOP ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION AND LONG-RANGE MARITIME OPERATIONS TO SHADOW VESSELS SUSPECTED OF CARRYING NARCOTIC DRUGS.

MOST MEMBERS OF THE FORCE ARE VOLUNTEERS WITH FULL-TIME JOBS WHO RECEIVE INTENSIVE TRAINING AT WEEK-ENDS OR AFTER OFFICE HOURS. ONCE A YEAR. THEY MUST ATTEND A TWO-WEEK TRAINING CAMP IN THE NEW TERRITORIES. THEY ARE ALSO REQUIRED TO BE ON STANDBY FOR EMERGENCY DUTIES.

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