By Judith Martin
When they're being tossed about in ferocious seas, often with a broken mast or taking on water, it's the sight most yachties yearn for - an RNZAF P-3K Orion looming into view.
The Orions are the eyes and ears that search for and assist mariners in distress, and the six the RNZAF flies patrol the largest search and rescue region in the world, and the fourth largest Exclusive Economic Zone.
The aircraft, and the crews who fly and maintain them, have recently experienced one of their busiest- ever periods, with 250 hours flown this year alone. On average, the Squadron conducts about 125 hours of search and rescue operations per year. However, in June alone it completed 11 sorties – 10 successfully, involving 83 flying hours. The only unsuccessful search was for a vessel that had departed from its track, was overdue, and had not reported its arrival. And the missions continued into July.
That sort of tempo is, says Squadron Commanding Officer, Wing Commander John Lovatt, "a pretty big ask".
"The Squadron, including the maintainers who kept the aircraft flying, worked hard – very hard. At times I wondered when it would all ease up, but I’m proud of what we have achieved. There has been a lot of goodwill shown by everyone involved in the searches, including those managing the searches from Joint Force Headquarters and the Rescue Coordination Centre."
The most recent searches were in atrocious weather conditions, described by aircrew as among the worst seas they had seen. Masters of the rescue vessels confirmed this, other ships in the area who were at too high a risk to afford immediate help to the stricken vessels.
When an aircraft begins searching it is provided with a computer-derived search area in which the search is initially conducted. A variety of search methods are used, including sensors, radar, and visual. Beacon searches are the most effective and efficient, and the importance of a strong 406 MHZ beacon cannot be stressed enough, says Wing Commander Lovatt.
"An activated beacon basically guarantees a yacht will be found. The Rescue Coordination Centre gives the aircraft a position so that it can fly over the distressed craft, and render whatever assistance is needed. People often comment on the lack of windows in an Orion, but we use our sensors and radar most. If we’re down to doing a visual search things aren’t usually looking too good (for the craft).Visual searches over such a wide expanse of ocean are time-consuming and very hard work."
When a distressed yacht is found, a package containing a radio, water and, if necessary, first aid equipment can be dropped to it from the aircraft. Often a vessel nearby can be contacted to sail to the search area and assist. In the meantime a sea rescue apparatus, which contains a life raft and survival pack, can also be dropped from the Orion’s bomb bay.
"If we find survivors in the water we can, if required, drop one of these sets upwind which is tethered and will drift down to the survivors."
Yachts, because they are usually made of fiberglass, which is a poor electromagnetic reflector, are difficult to detect by radar, hence the need for a beacon. The Maritime Safety Authority has plans to change New Zealand registered vessels departure regulations to require them to have a serviceable short wave (HF) radio or similar long-range communication capability.
Search and rescue work gets the biggest profile, but the Orions, as well as having a military capability, also perform another important task – ocean surveillance for both New Zealand and its near neighbours – and sometimes the two coincide. The aircraft can use its sensors to search for vessels, which are acting illegally, and gather evidence for prosecution or further action. The Air Force has an Orion on standby for search and rescue work 24 hours a day. The Squadron also regularly conducts routine EEZ surveillance missions and makes regular forays into the South West Pacific and the Southern Ocean on surveillance patrols.
"All the aircrew, maintenance and other personnel on search and rescue standby must remain within 30 minutes of base. For most of the Squadron that means for one week in every two or three they can’t move outside the local area. Our maintenance branch is understaffed at present, and they were working around the clock for a while to ensure aircraft were available for the spate of searches we have had. Their families put up with an awful lot, but our men and women are committed to the job and believe in what they’re doing.
"They know they are doing challenging and rewarding work. At one stage we were sending an aircraft out (on a search) whilst another SAR call was coming in. You ring people up in the middle of the night and ask them to come in to work. I’ve never had someone say ‘I can’t’ or ‘I won’t’. They know there’s a good reason. There is the occasional disappointment, when a search is unsuccessful, but the men and women here get a lot of satisfaction out of what they do.”
Above, aircraft personnel learn about the liferaft which can be dropped during a search, top, the aircraft’s flight panel is checked, above right, Aircraftman Nik Walmsley inspects the aircraft’s hydraulic service centre.
Top, Sergeant Brian Medcalf and leading aircraftman Fenton Tisdall remove the sea rescue apparatus, centre, avionics technician Corporal Paul Lunny checks radios, above, the rescued crew of a yacht leave their stricken vessel.