LOOP News

7 SEP 07: SKY WATCH TO THE RESCUE

TWO dinghy crew were rescued after Sky Watch chief pilot, Sqn Ldr Tony Cowan, flying an RAF Grob 115E training aircraft overhead Grafham Water, Cambs spotted a sailing dinghy in difficulties.

Near gale force wind in excess of 30 knots had knocked the dinghy flat. Each time the crew tried to right their craft it was knocked down and the crew were thrown into the water.

Tony, an RYA yachtmaster, decided the crew were in need of assistance and requested RAF Wyton ATC to call the Grafham Water Sailing Club to launch their rescue boat. After five minutes Tony upgraded his call to a 'Mayday Relay' as he believed the sailing dinghy crew required immediate assistance and there was no sign of any rescue.

ATC called out the police helicopter based at RAF Wyton and it joined Tony overhead the dinghy. The two aircraft used the SAR 'scene of search' frequency, 123.1 MHz to maintain aircraft separation.

Whilst Tony maintained observation from an orbit at 1500ft the crew of the police aircraft descended to low level and used their 'Sky Shout' public address system to inform the men in the water of rescue progress.
The time from report to the dinghy sailors being rescued by a launch was 25
minutes. Their sailing dinghy was eventually driven onto the lee shore by the strong wind.

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LOOP News

7 SEP 07: SKY WATCH TO THE RESCUE