Left: Nearing the search area (or drop zone), the SAR stores would be positioned in the rear port doorway of the F-27.

Former Search and Rescue Officer (SARO) and instructor John Waldron remembers:

"[This photo shows a] dummy multi unit SRK (Sea Rescue Kit) with the dispatcher positioning the final unit (a dummy liferaft) for the drop from the rear left hand door of TAA Fokker Friendship VH-TQO over Mangalore (Victoria) in mid-year 1981. The dispatcher is Richard Smith (at that time an Air Traffic Controller - Operations - at Melbourne Airport)."

Right: "The five units in the drop - (life raft - three marine supply containers - life raft) were dropped by a three person team - two dispatchers (who provided the muscle) and a dropmaster who handled the communications with the flight crew, the timing of the drop and monitored the safety of the team with the door open in flight (as well during training operations there was an instructor/safety officer - all a bit crowded in the back end of the Fokker!)

The practical supply drop exercise was included in the syllabus of the Assistant SAR Mission Coordinator course - this was for No 4 Course (4 May - 5 June 1981)."

Click here to see more photos from this SAREX

(Photos: CAHS collection - top PU-000023-81-71 F; bottom PU-000036-81-71 U)

Back to the main Air Traffic Services index

If this page appears without a menu bar at top and left, click here