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Civil Aviation Department organises air search and rescue
The annual search and rescue exercise organised by the Civil Aviation Department (CAD) to provide training and familiarisation in search and rescue techniques for members of local and foreign rescue units started today (Tuesday).
The three-day exercise began with a static display of search and rescue aircraft and equipment at the Hong Kong International Airport this morning and a short range exercise at the Shek Kong Airfield in the afternoon. A long range exercise will swing into action in the South China Sea tomorrow (Wednesday).
The short range exercise included water bombing demonstration, winching of simulated survivors, electronic search of distress beacon and a tandem jump of paramedic personnel from a C130 aircraft.
A CAD official responsible for organising and co-ordinating the exercise said the main event would be the long range exercise which was aimed at testing the alertness, co-ordination and communication facilities of various participants.
The exercise will be activated this (Tuesday) evening, simulating an aircraft in distress about 130 kilometres Southwest of Hong Kong, and aircraft, helicopters and ships will be despatched to search and locate the targets in the South China Sea.
In addition to CAD, other participants include the United States Air Force, Marine Department, Government Flying Service, Royal Air Force, United States Coast Guard, United States Navy, Japanese Maritime Safety Agency, Guangdong Maritime Emergency Search and Rescue Centre, Royal Navy, Civil Aid Services and Government Information Services.
A number of personnel from organisations and countries in the Asia-Pacific Region including Guangdong Maritime Emergency Search and Rescue Centre; Zhuhai, Shenzhen and Guangzhou Airport Authorities; Thailand; and Singapore have also attended as observers.
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