Experts Discuss Live Air Drop of Life Saving Kits Capability

The Fiji Rescue Trust will undertake further consultations with the Civil Aviation Authority of Fiji (CAAF) and the Government to further develop and practise the capability of the live drop.

More importantly is the training with relevant stakeholders such as the Fiji Rescue Coordination Centre (Fiji RCC), Police and Navy so that they can be deployed as and when needed.

This need came to light after the Fiji Aeromedical & Rescue Services Trust and LifeFlight Fiji undertook the first live airdrops of Survival Kits during a search and rescue mission in the Yasawa waters for three missing fishermen on Friday.

The successful mission was tasked by the Fiji RCC and involved personnel from LifeFlight Fiji, Joyce Aviation and Fiji Airports.

The AirDrop Kit was developed in partnership with Joyce Aviation Group following feedback from search and rescue missions and stakeholders that there was a need to have this capability in Fiji.

This is given the number of search and rescue missions as well as the need to provide communication and support when missing persons and vessels are located.

Previously this capability was only available through the deployment of Australian or NZ Air Force aircraft, which presented issues around time to deploy (i.e. from their home bases) as well as the fact that this capability is needed in Fiji given the many missions that are being tasked through the Fiji Rescue Coordination Centre.

Fiji Rescue Trust trustee Anthony Blake said, “This marks a milestone in the development of a search and rescue capability for Fiji and the region such as nearby countries of Tuvalu and Kiribati and reduces our reliance on SAR assets that would take up to eight hours to get here.

“We can now deploy within one hour of receiving the call for assistance.”

This new capability now allows the Fiji Rescue Trust to drop survival or lifesaving supplies to persons in distress at sea.

The drop includes bottled water and life jackets.

Future drop kits will include VHF radios, locating beacons, flares as well as water and a first aid kit.

Joyce Aviation CEO, Tim Joyce said the capability was a real need in Fiji given our vast maritime sector and cases of missing vessels and persons at sea.

“Joyce Aviation stands ready to assist in saving lives through our partnership with the Fiji Rescue Trust.”

Meanwhile, the three fishermen were on board their boat when it capsized in the rough seas the previous day.

They had abandoned their vessel, swam and clung onto a reef until they were rescued after 27 hours in the sea, wet and without freshwater and food.

Edited by Percy Kean

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