Mercy flight helps training

Press, 26 July 1986, Page 9

Mercy flight helps training

The Royal New Zealand Air Force never passes up a chance for training. Called out for a mercy dash to the Chatham Islands on Thursday evening, the Air Force used the occasion to test the night-flying capabilities of two of its pilots. An F 27 Friendship aircraft was used for the mercy dash for Allan David Murphy, aged 34, who had taken ill and was in need of medical attention not available in the Chathams.

The plane was flown by Flight Lieutenant John Coll on the outbound leg, and by Pilot Officer Glen Sycamore back to New Zealand, both under the eye of the flight commander, Flight Lieutenant Craig Inch. There are no lights for the runway on the Chathams and so the landing was made with the strip illuminated by the headlights of four vehicles. “The lights provide a bit of perspective, so we know the ground is com-

ing up,” said Pilot Officer Sycamore. Flights to the Chathams were made about once every six months, just to practise the procedure, he said.

A turbulent north-west wind meant the plane could not take off from Wigram with a full load of fuel. It had to fly to Christchurch Airport to top'Up. The Friendship took off at 6.11 p.m. and, in spite of headwinds on the returnflight, was back at

11.42 p.m. . Expected turbulence turned out to be “very minor,” said Pilot Officer Sycamore. Mr Murphy, a builder, was reported to be “fairly comfortable” inChristchurch Hospital yesterday afternoon. He was admitted to a medical ward, rather than the intensive-care ■„ unit Details of his condition were not .available.

Mr Murphy had been able to walk to the. plane on the Chathams.