Right Time, Right Place for King Air SAR

EDITOR

REBECCA QUILLIAM

Pilot Officer Olivia Landau was doing some Search and Rescue training in a King Air 350 off the Bay of Plenty coast recently when a real life scenario unfolded in front of her.

“I knew from the moment I joined the Air Force that I wanted to contribute to something bigger than myself. It’s always been search and rescue for me.” - Pilot Officer Olivia Landau

The King Air crew played a key role alongside rescue organisations during the mission, responding to an emergency beacon set off by a brother and sister, who were left floating in a life raft after their 29 foot launch sank.

Rescue Coordination Centre NZ had also tasked two rescue helicopters and a Coastguard New Zealand vessel to the area. The TECT Rescue Helicopter identified the raft location after the survivors set off a flare, and the King Air maintained over-watch until Coastguard Auckland arrived to rescue the pair.

Pilot Officer (PLTOFF) Landau said the King Air had not gone far into its flight, when her instructor received the mayday call.

The trainee air warfare officer at first thought it was all part of the Search and Rescue scenario training, but quickly realised it was a real life situation.

“Initially we received half of the position from the Mayday relay, and then the full information was passed from Maritime NZ and we started tracking towards it to see what was going on and to see if we could offer assistance.”

It took only about 10 minutes for the aircraft to reach the area, PLTOFF Landau said.

Her instructor kept up communications with Maritime New Zealand, TECT Rescue Helicopter, the Coastguard vessel and the aircraft’s captain and co-pilot.

“It was impressive to watch his mental map keeping track of what was going on and the entities he was talking with and his coordination for the crew.

“The biggest contribution we made was to give updated locations of the life raft as it was drifting.”

The mission highlighted just how busy a real search mission could be, PLTOFF Landau said.

“In the simulator there are usually about three different entities that we talk with, but in reality there were about five and it was much busier. For me it showed exactly how busy a Search and Rescue was, right up until the people are on the safe vessel.”