Air Patrol Training

Alan Murgatroyd from Northland Coastguard Air Patrol

Members of the Northland Coastguard Air Patrol, based at Bay of Islands Airport, Kerikeri, conducted an air/sea exercise with the Whangaroa Coastguard Unit on Sunday morning. Having been given an area of probability, the aircraft flew a creeping line ahead type search pattern, i.e. up and down parallel lines on a North and South heading, 1/4 km. apart, whilst slowly working towards the West, and successfully located a small training "target" previously dropped in the ocean off Stephenson Island, and then locating and directing the Whangaroa Coastguard Rescue vessel back to the spot to "rescue" the target. This is the core business of the Air Patrol, being able to cover a large area of the ocean when the exact location of a missing vessel, or one in distress ,is unknown.

Recreational sailors are encouraged to join Coastguard New Zealand, and are then offered a free service in the form of a monitored Trip Report, e.g. radio to Coastguard your departure point, destination, total persons on board, and estimated time of return, so that if you don't call back and advise of your safe return on schedule, search and rescue organisations can start to look for you much more quickly than if your friends and relatives "eventually" realise that you have not returned.

Never say never, Murphy is always with us ! Safety is no accident.

If you feel that you can help this cause, contact the Air Patrol, volunteers are always welcomed.