'Eye in the sky' is vital says lifeboat

Fortunately, the great majority of the general public will never find themselves in a life and death situation at sea, and in consequence, never face the sheer and complete helplessness associated with being the subject of a search and rescue event. To those in the know, with practical experience in maritime search and rescue, the unique value of Air Search and Lion's Pride seem self-evident.

The standard of search and rescue in Channel Island waters is enviably

first- class. The exemplary success rate is hugely aided by the ability to use the 'eye in the sky' to rapidly locate a person in distress.

Air Search provides both an 'eye in the sky' and thermal-imaging search capability in the 2,000 sq. miles of sea surrounding the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey and is also routinely called upon to assist in adjacent French waters as far away as Seine Bay. Our capability is the envy of both UK and French authorities, whose assets are much more thinly spread.

By way of an example, the most recent shout for the St Peter Port lifeboat was to a person lost at night en route between Guernsey and Jersey. Both the lifeboat and Air Search 1 were called out. On this occasion, Lion's Pride rapidly located the target, made it aware that help was on its way, lit up the target and directed the lifeboat to it, saving considerable search time. Had it been necessary, it could also have dropped a life raft. The unique combination of air search and lifeboat is not only extremely efficient, but also very cost effective. The probability of success is often time- dependent and, with a Severn Class lifeboat fuel cost alone running at £1 every six seconds, even a moderate search can become a very expensive activity.

Saving life at sea is a voluntary commitment, provided at no cost to the persons in distress. We are fortunate to be blessed with sufficient brave volunteers for both lifeboat and Air Search, who maintain an enviable standard of professionalism, who willingly risk their lives for others.

Ask your lifeboat coxswain for the most useful tool in his search kit, and it will most certainly be Air Search 1. So, on behalf of all Channel Island lifeboat crews, please support our 'eye in the sky' in its hour of need.

CAPTAIN PETER GILL,

Lifeboat operations manager for St Peter Port.