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Northeast Asia Engagement :: People's Republic of China and U.S. Forces Enhancing Maritime Safety Throughout the Asia-Pacific Region Proliferation Security Initiative Activities Attract International Interest
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Regional Response Forces :: Indian, Canadian and U.S. Forces Partner for a Safer Asia-Pacific Region RIMPAC
2006: Philippine-U.S. Forces Building Interoperability and Goodwill
Happenings :: |
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3 :: 4
Hong Kong – SAREX PO2 Tiffini M. Jones, USN, is assigned to Fleet Public Affairs Center, Pacific. More than 300 personnel from the U.S. Navy, Coast Guard, and Air Force and Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department (CAD) aviators successfully conducted a SAREX in the South China Sea in October 2006. The two-day exercise had both a long-range search-and-rescue event, and a short-range response. During the long-range scenario on the first day, CAD and U.S. aircraft searched from the sky for a target simulating a lost vessel, while the guided-missile frigate USS Gary (FFG 51) aided in the search from the ocean’s surface. Gary was joined by a U.S. Air Force HC-130N Hercules and a U.S. Coast Guard HC-130N. The CAD aviators flew a J-41 Jetstream aircraft and an AS332 Super Puma helicopter in the search. Although adverse weather conditions added a level of difficulty to the exercise, the U.S. Air Force aircraft found the target within 30 minutes of the evolution’s execution. “After completing one and a half legs of the search, the load master located the target and we marked the point,” said U.S. Air Force Capt. Nicholas Miller, the pilot of the HC-130N. “The Gary came right in and picked up the target right after it was flagged.” After reaching the target, Gary performed a simulated rescue, and the Hong Kong CAD Super Puma landed on Gary’s flight deck, performing a mock medical evacuation. As the on-scene coordinator for the exercise, the U.S. Coast Guard aided in the recovery by providing assistance with the search pattern and de-conflicting aircraft altitudes. The rare landing of a CAD helicopter on the decks of the USS Gary was a key component of the training and could help save lives in the future, noted U.S. Navy Cmdr. Thomas Bellit. “The ability to operate our ships and aircraft together extends capabilities,” he said. “In the event of a real-world emergency, training together like this makes our responses to mariners in distress easier to plan.” The Hong Kong SAREX provided continuation training and familiarization in search-and-rescue techniques for air traffic controllers, air crews, and other search-and-rescue units likely to operate in the Hong Kong region. The long-range SAR evolution was followed by a short-range exercise on the second day involving the People’s Liberation Army (Navy) [PLA(N)] and the CAD. Civil aviation and military personnel from China, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand and the United States observed the two-day exercise. “We treasure the international participation in this exercise,” said P.F. Wong, CAD chief engineer. “The experience that our air crews and the visiting aircrews exchange builds cooperation that will help carry out potential rescues in the future.” The two-day exercise culminated in successful rescues in both the short-range and long-range scenarios, underscored the importance of continued cooperation, and fostered understanding between the participants. The high level of proficiency and interaction between the U.S. forces and CAD aviators facilitated the rescue of an injured U.S. sailor aboard the guided missile cruiser USS Cowpens (CG 63) in February 2007. After notifying the U.S. Office of Liaison Administration (OLA) in Hong Kong of the need for an urgent medical evacuation, the OLA requested help from Hong Kong’s Government Flying Service (GFS). That service, which trains CAD pilots, launched a fixed-wing aircraft and a helicopter within an hour of the OLA request. Despite heavy winds and rough seas, the GFS helicopter landed on Cowpens at night and extracted the injured sailor to a Hong Kong hospital where he was stabilized. The efficiency of this medical evacuation highlights the value of building a strong foundation of cooperation and interaction through search-and-rescue exercises.
E-mail: apdforum@apan-info.net |
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