Main Page / Hong Kong Regular Forces / Government Flying Service / The procedure of GFS callouts

In general, the Government Flying Service (GFS) of Hong Kong provide 24 hours emergency air search & rescue and ambulance services (Emergency Callouts) and General Government Support services, such as carry VIPs.

The Emergecy callouts can only be tasked by

(a) Hong Kong Police Headquarters Command and Control Centre (HQCCC). (b) Fire Services Communciation Centre (FSCC). (c) Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre of Marine Department. (d) Command and Control Cetnre of Marine Command, Hong Kong Police Force.

(e) Civil Aviation Department Rescue Coordination Centre.

via direct lines on the COMMS Console in the ACCC (Air Command and Control Centre) The klaxon siren will be sounded within the HQ complex. All details will be logged and conversation recorded.

(Details - e.g. GR/LS, no/sex/clothing of survivors/patients, nature of sickness/injury, contact no of survivors, FSCC controllor no., Comms freq/channel, ground search & rescue party, if hillfire, size of fire, high tension/residential area nearby?)

Normally the duty pilot and crewmen will need to report to ACCC (colloquially OPS) for briefing by the Comms Offrs but when time is really pressing only the pilot will go and do the computerized pre-flight planning and the crewman which rush at the same time to the role bay (for collection of gear/equipment required for the mission.

Sometime initial alert will be given. In that case all personnel on duty (Duty Ops Manager - DOM) and aircrew and engineering will be alerted. No siren of course at the initial alert stage.

Communication Officer of GFS on duty will notify duty aircrew according the nature of the task (Inshore/offshore SAR/Mountain Rescue - L2, CASEVAC - EC155B, Police Task - normally EC155B except for emergeny deployment of large group of police officers then L2. Firefighting - L2 with firetank or fire bucket (now seldom used), offshore SAR might involve J41)

Alert air medical team too If auxiliary AMOs/AMNOs are on duty (on Public holidays and Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays) and if casualties are involved.

Alert CAS Mountain Rescue Company members on duty (if on Sundays) if mountain rescue and there is a chance that MR might be useful (depending on situation).

Notify Engineering if special equipment are needed or aircraft needs reconfiguration due to mission requirement.

File verbal flight plan using direct line with Air Traffic Control.

Monitor comms. Often FSCC provides inadequate information and the Comms Offrs will need to contact the survivor direct on portable for additional information.
At times patching of surivior's portable phone with the aircraft comms.

Arrange with FSCC (Mountain rescue) or HQCCC (CASVAC) ambulance pickup if not landing at HK24 Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital (PYNEH). Contact PYNEH if ETA of heli and patient and nature of sickness if landing at HK24.

Lots of paperwork (SAR file, debriefing form, press release, performance pledge (response time) records

Prepare VCD of aerial video footage for electronic media and handle press if necessary.