Introduction

The Hong Kong Search and Rescue Exercise 2005 (SAREX 2005) was conducted between 17 August and 22 August 2005.This is an annual exercise organized by the Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department in accordance with the recommendations laid down in ICAO Annex 12.

 

Objectives

 The objectives of the SAREX are as follows:

To test the effectiveness of the alerting, co-ordination and communication facilities of the Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre (ARCC).

• To test the effectiveness of search and rescue procedures and personnel.
• To provide continuation training and familiarization in search and rescue technique for SAR qualified air traffic controllers, aircrews and other SAR units likely to be involved in such operations.
• To promote effective search and rescue planning.
• To enhance co-ordination and co-operation among local search and rescue units, including PLA.
• To provide an opportunity for representatives from other departments and neighbouring countries to view the SAR organizations and exchange their expertise.

 

 

Participants and Observers

 

Participants of SAREX 2005 include (in alphabetical order):

Auxiliary Medical Service Hong Kong (AMS)

Civil Aid Service Hong Kong (CAS)

Civil Aviation DepartmentHong Kong (CAD)

Hong Kong Fire Services Department (FSD)

Government Flying ServiceHong Kong (GFS)

Hong Kong Observatory (HKO)

Hong Kong Police Force Marine Region (MARPOL)

Marine DepartmentHong Kong (MARDEP)

People’s Liberation Army Forces Hong Kong (PLA)

 

Representatives from the following organizations participated as observers (in alphabetical order):

 

Civil Aviation Administration of China

Civil Aviation Authority, Singapore

Department of Civil Aviation, Brunei

Department of Civil Aviation, Malaysia

Department of Civil Aviation, Thailand

Guangdong Marine Emergency Search & Rescue Centre

Rescue Co-ordination Centre, Philippines

 

 

Exercise Programme

Date	Time (Local)	Event
17 Aug 2005 (Wed)	1430 – 1630	Exercise Planning Meeting
18 Aug 2005 (Thu)	1000 – 1500	Medium Range SAR Exercise
19 Aug 2005 (Fri)	1500 – 1600	Short Range Sea Rescue Exercise
20 Aug 2005 (Sat)	1000 – 1200	Exercise Review Meeting

 

Owing to bad weather, the short range exercise on 19 August 2005 was postponed to 22 August, and subsequently a review meeting for the short range exercise was held on 29 August.

 

 

Medium Range SAREX

In early morning, 18 August 2005, a GFS helicopter dropped one search target simulating a person in water at approximately 30 NM south of Hong Kong.Alerting action was carried out at 0930 LT and a search plan was devised with the SARIS computer program to deploy the available search resources of a GFS JS41, a GFS L2 helicopter, a PLA Z9 helicopterand also a PLA Navy Vessel.

At 1020 LT on 18 August 2005, mission and weather briefing for aircrew was conducted in the Air Traffic Control Complex Conference Room. GFS was appointed as the On Scene Co-ordinator for the mission.

The sea Search and Rescue Unit (SRU) was deployed at 1000 LT and the air SRUs were launched between 1200 and 1230 LT and they arrived on scene between 1230 and 1300 LT to start the search. At 1337 LT, PLA Z9 located the target. The search exercise was terminated at 1515 LT after recovering all SRUs.

Despite under atrocious weather conditions, the exercise was successfully concluded with target found.Participants were able to gain a better understanding of the SAR capabilities of the participating units and valuable experience was learnt from the exercise. Most importantly, the flexibility in adjusting search and rescue plan in accordance with changes in situations was highly demonstrated. The objectives of the exercise were fulfilled.

 

 

Short Range Rescue Exercise

The Short Range Exercise originally scheduled for 19 August 2005 was postponed to 22 August 2005 due to unfavourable weather conditions. It was conducted at 1445LT in Tung O Wan of Lamma Island on the afternoon of 22 August 2005.It was jointly performed by the People’s Liberation Army Forces Hong Kong, Hong Kong Police (Marine Region), Hong Kong Fire Services Department, Civil Aid Service Hong Kong and Government Flying Service.

The exercise was kicked off by a simulated helicopter crashed, causing the helicopter to catch fire, with two simulated survivors to be rescued in Tung O Wan of Lamma Island. GFS JS41 was first arriving the scene and appointed as on-scene-coordinator. Next arriving were two PLA vessels, PLA Z9 helicopter and GFS L2 helicopter. The Z9 helicopter performed a sea rescue operation, winching one simulated survivor to the naval vessel and after the boat’s crew had given him first aid, airlifted the simulated survivor from the vessel to the hospital (simulated). A fire fighting as well as sea rescue demonstration was performed by Fire Launch and two speedboats from FSD with a team of divers. The exercise was completed at 1528LT by GFS L2 helicopter’s sea winching of the last simulated survivor (colleague from CAS) to the Police Launch.

Around 40 local and overseas press reporters witnessed the event from an on-scene “press boat” and provided a wide coverage of the event in the news media.

 

 

Social Events

 One social event was organized during SAREX 2005. A dinner reception was held on the evening of 19 August 2005 after the medium range exercise as a token of appreciation to all participants and observers and enabled further sharing of experience among attendees.

 

Review Meeting 

Two review meetings, each for Medium and Short Range Exercise, were held on 20 and 29 August 2005 respectively in the Conference Room at the CAD HQ. Before the meeting, mementos were exchanged between Director-General of Civil Aviation and representatives from the PLA Forces.Souvenirs were also presented to other Government departments and overseas units as a token of appreciation for their participation in the SAREX.The purpose of the meeting was to evaluate the various aspects of the SAREX with respect to co-ordination, communication, dissemination of information etc. so as to provide improvements for future exercises.The comments from all parties were favourable for both Medium and Short exercise and SAREX 2005 was concluded with the objectives of the exercise satisfactorily fulfilled.

 

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