SEARCH AND RESCUE

“Who will come to find me if I go down?” I often wonder while flying alone in the outer reaches of the bushveld. It’s not that I’m obsessive-compulsive. I’ve always just been fascinated with the idea of rescue; how you can exercise the full capabilities of the helicopter to help a person in need.

- GEORGE TONKING

AS YOU MAY HAVE PICKED UP in my previous articles, I love flying, but I also enjoy the people aspect of the work just as much. Years ago, when I first signed up to be a pilot at the Protea Coin Group, I worked under Waal de Waal, the COO at the time. Waal, or Delta Whiskey, as he’s affectionately known to his ex-101 Romeo Mike battalion compadres, is a man who learnt the importance of rescue first-hand. While in the army way back when, he accidentally triggered a POMZ anti-personnel mine somewhere beyond the northern border of South West Africa. After being carried on a makeshift stretcher for many miles, he was casevaced by Puma.

“We never leave a man behind,” became one of his mantras and something he was fond of repeating during security operations. I too took it to heart, which leads me to my topic this month: Rescue.

A few years ago, I was introduced to Greg Critchley, an interesting fellow who works as a radar controller for Air Traffic and Navigation Services at OR Tambo International Airport. He’s the guy who looks at your radar dot on his screen and tells you where to go on Joburg North frequency. His other job is as the ARCC (Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre) deputy chief.