Welcome to the website of Air Search
Dedicating our own time, money and aircraft to help others.
This weather forecast is generated by the Met Office Weather Widget
Overview Air Search is an UK based voluntary organisation made up of Pilots, Observers and Ground Crew who donate their time and aircraft free of charge. Our primary function is to provide 'Eyes in the Sky' free of charge to help the emergency services and local authorities fulfill their humanitarian, statutory or community role. We work with the Police, Fire Service, Ambulance Service, HM CoastGuard, Local Council Authorities, National Government departments, Resilience Forums, Lowland Search and Rescue Teams, Highways England, Maritime Coastguard Agency, Environment Agency, the RNLI, Network Rail and other multi-agency partners and voluntary organisations. Interested? Find out more About us |
|
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Photographic Training
hones skills
Almost 20 members met at Rochester Airport on Tuesday 3rd November 2015 for a photographic and camera input from one of our new members who also happens to be a photographer in his spare time.
Phil Erstwell, has only been with Air Search a couple of months, but kindly offered to offer some advice to Pilots and particularly, observers, who take photos on sorties. The subjects that were covered about, exposures, lens settings, shutter speeds and what certain functions do will benefit all those who attended the session and hope to be able to put into practice ASAP.
Phil Erstwell, has only been with Air Search a couple of months, but kindly offered to offer some advice to Pilots and particularly, observers, who take photos on sorties. The subjects that were covered about, exposures, lens settings, shutter speeds and what certain functions do will benefit all those who attended the session and hope to be able to put into practice ASAP.
Members visit Kent, Surrey &
Sussex Air Ambulance
Members of Air Search visited the Kent, Surrey & Sussex Air Ambulance base on 15th October 2015 at Marden, Kent. They were given a tour of the hanger, met some of the crew, shown the equipment carried by the aircraft and the life saving capabilities of this incredible charity.
Every year, Air Search make a donation to the Air Ambulance charity and this year will be no different. A token of our immense gratitude towards keeping this vital service operational!
Find out more here visit the website: kssairambulance.org.uk
Every year, Air Search make a donation to the Air Ambulance charity and this year will be no different. A token of our immense gratitude towards keeping this vital service operational!
Find out more here visit the website: kssairambulance.org.uk
Welcome to new Members & Training begins!!
Air Search would like to welcome new members to the organisation and wish them all the best in the future.
Graham Foster -Pilot Kingsley Elstow - Observer Oliver Babbage - Pilot Robert Main - Pilot Some of the new members, along with junior members and some senior members, attended their first training session recently at Rochester Airport, where they were put through a ground based navigation exercise using charts and clues to find locations and then a Q&A on aircraft dynamics, principles and weight and balance. We think their heads are still spinning!! Thanks to our senior pilot Ron Armitage and observer Sandra Davies for organising and compiling the training. |
On 4th August 2015 Air Search attended the Kent Resilience forum where representatives from Kent Police, Kent Fire rescue Service, Kent council and other emergency and voluntary sector agencies thanked Air Search for their continued support. Capt. Peter Adams received an appreciation donation from Ch/Insp Amanda Tiollotson from Kent Police.
On 4th August 2015 Air Search attended the Kent Resilience forum where representatives from Kent Police, Kent Fire rescue Service, Kent council and other emergency and voluntary sector agencies thanked Air Search for their continued support. Capt. Peter Adams received an appreciation donation from Ch/Insp Amanda Tiollotson from Kent Police.
A Busy Summer for Air Search
Air Search have been involved in a very busy Summer thus far, just some of the incidents we have been involved in:-
Operation Stack We have been extensively used by Kent County Council and the partners within the Emergency Services resilience forums for providing aerial photo reconnaissance, observations and reporting on Operation Stack to enable the authorities and relevant agencies to make informed decisions and preparing strategies. Operation Stack caused chaos in Kent for days on end and was escalated up to COBRA minister level. Our pictures helped the senior officials get an oversight of what exactly what was happening. Great work by our pilots and observers! Search for Migrants Whilst at Lashenden/Headcorn airfield on 31st July one of our pilots and his observer were asked by the airfield manager, and the local police if they would be prepared to search the local area with a view to ascertaining whether a number of illegal immigrants were in the vicinity. Our new pilot, David Smith, was on air traffic control and was most helpful in facilitating their line search between 300 and 500 feet to the north of the airfield. Several flights were made, totaling about an hour and, whilst unsuccessful, both the police and airfield management were most appreciative. Fire in Canterbury on Saturday 4th July Flying back from Boxted on 4th July, a fire was observed by one of our senior pilots and observers in Canterbury and a detour was made to take photographs. They were sent to Kent Council at Kent Voluntary Sector Emergency Group, who forwarded them on to Kent Fire and Rescue Service. KFRS were very pleased and impressed with the fire photographs and were used by fire officers and the incident command vehicle and they stated they wished to use them for future training and for fire service publications and would credit Air Search with the pictures. Well Done! Battle of Britain Memorial Day at Capel le Ferne This being the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, Observer Richard Olive, Observer Sandra Davis and Pilot Ron Armitage represented Air Search at the Battle of Britain Memorial (Capel le Ferne) on 12th July. We were pleased to meet our Honorary President Air Commodore Rick Peacock-Edwards. There was also scheduled fly past by a Spitfire. |
|
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Air Search bring "Dusty" to Kent Police Open Day
Air Search were a big hit be at the Kent Police public Open Day on Sunday 12th July 2015 at the Kent Police College, Maidstone. Senior members Bob Bailey and Luke Challinger took a now stripped down Team Min Max 91 microlight to the show along with a stand. The aircraft (which looks a lot like a certain Disney character "Dusty" from the animated film Planes was a massive attraction all day. Bob and Luke worked tirelessly all day sitting over 200 children in the cockpit. There was a 30 minute queue to sit in the aircraft for most of the day with Bob and Luke taking it in turns to supervise the aircraft whilst the other chatted to the parents in the queue about Air Search's work. The aircraft, which was kindly donated by another member, John Henshall, was, up until a couple of years ago a real flying aircraft until a forced landing rendered it un-airworthy. The wings were removed and it now acts a great showcase for events Air Search are present at to attract people over who we can then engage with and explain who Air Search are. The controls on the elevator and rudder are still operable and move with inputs on the flight stick and pedals. The strobes and some instrument lights also work which our young pilots loved. Everyone was also given a balloon and sticker for sitting in the plane. We were informed by Kent Police that we were one of the highlights of the show and that all the kids were talking about "Dusty". There was also interest from some members of public about joining Air Search. All in all a terrific and fun day was had by all and a great promotional day for Air Search. For more info click: Kent Police Open Day |
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________