Helicopters called for too readily — safety expert

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34099, 11 March 1976, Page 7

Helicopters called for too readily — safety expert

C.V.Z. Pres* Association) WELLINGTON. Some people look for a helicopter rescue to 1 readily w hen they get J into trouble while tramping. says a leading member of the Mountain Safety Council. Speaking of the changes' in search and rescue brought’ about by the increasing use; of helicopters, Mr Arnold' Heine, a member of the' Mountain Safetv Council's, management committee, said! that “Being aware of the; availability of helicopters' has sometimes prompted i people to ask for help in-[ stead of coping with the situation. "Some people are inclined to ask for rescue too easily, because they are unskilled in first aid and almost lack judgment in an emergency "If two people are in the! Tararuas, and one sprains an ankle, in some cases they’d be better to stay the night where they are. do some first aid. and walk out in the morning. Mr Heine was interviewed during a search and rescue, training exercise near Walls Whare in the Eastern Tarauas at the week-end. Helicopter rescue work was; one of me main subjects covered Mr Heine also said there should be no lessening in the standard of rescuers just! because they could be flown’ into an area by helicopter. "If rescue people who are less fit and less experienced are flown into more remote areas and then because the

■ weather changes they have] Ito walk out, problems arise. : "The standard and fitness! of rescue people going in by, helicopter should generally' be no less than if they had ’to walk in. "There’s a certain criteria ; for search teams and there’s no reason why this should- , be changed because of the: ' availability of helicopters,” Mr Heine said. During the training exer-, j cise the commander of the I Wellington police district, [(Chief Superintendent E. J.; Trappitt) described a new i policy which meant more j use of civilian than defence helicopters. “The tendency was in the [past to go more to the Air Force, we used to rely heavily on the .R.N.Z.A.F., often • involving them in long and uneconomic flights. "Now the Air Force has told us the most available ; suitable aircraft should be ■ used. It could be civilian or ‘ R.N.Z.A.F., but as often as! not it will be a civilian aircraft. "The proposals will be| studied at police headquarters with a view to. . adoption tn the near future,’ ‘ Mr Trappitt said. "The proposals would validate what has been hap-1 pening over the past year or [so, when a distant R.N.Z.A.F. aircraft might not :be economic, or the danger' to an injured person would, increase, so we have been ■.using civilian aircraft where i suitable. "At the same time we are very conscious of the real I support the R.N.Z.A.F. gives us, and will continue to give us. particularly in the spe-

icialised field of hoist i I usage. ” Mr Trappitt, who has .taken a special interest ini Isearch and rescue for many: [years, said aircraft including: 'helicopters "have been aj godsend” to Search and Rescue organisations. He was' much in favour of aircraft 'being used. "But we don’t want to dis- 1 ■ courage the ground parties,”’ he said. Helicopters and other air-’ ■ craft, were a supplement to ground parties, which were! particularly important if the ■weather deteriorated. The new policy proposals also include guidelines for ' the use of fixed-wing planes and helicopters. Fixed-wing aircraft would j be used for (1) limited specific searches where the terjrain permitted, (2) supply ‘[equipment drops where the .terrain permitted, and (3) '.the carriage of equipment or searchers to a strategic location where there was a suitiable airfield near the search .[area. Helicopters would be used Tot'll) Rescue of severely in-, 'jured or dangerously ill per-; [ sons or persons in immedi.iate danger, who cannot be ■ rescued by other means. .1(2) Carrying in special cir--'cumstances of search mem“bers or equipment to stratei.gic places. ['(3) Searches of particularly : i small or confined areas Where fixed-wing aircraft ;are unable to operate.

■ (4) Rescue of persons who , are not severely injured or'; dangerously ill but who are \; unable to walk with safety !| and are in a particularly re- , ’mote or hazardov., area and,i whose recovery by means ; other than helicopter would J be uneconomic. ~