Heliport
5th Sep 2007, 22:46
From the Ipswich Evening Star
Sea King Helicopter in Mercy Dash
A SUFFOLK search and rescue helicopter was involved in an emergency mission today to fly an airman to see a sick relative.
An RAF helicopter crew from Wattisham Airfield flew to Stansted airport at 4.20am to collect an airman who had to make an emergency flight back from an RAF base in Cyprus when a close relative became very seriously ill in Middlesborough.
But the mission of mercy became more complicated when the helicopter was not permitted to enter or land at Stansted because of noise restrictions and the fact that the flight was not scheduled.
The Sea King was then forced to fly to Boreham Airfield, in Hertfordshire, and a taxi was summoned to collect the RAF airman from Stansted Airport to the awaiting helicopter.
The man was then able to board the Sea King at Boreham Airfield and travel back to his sick relative.
The helicopter arrived back at Wattisham Airfield at 9.40am.
Dave Webster, an RAF search and rescue force spokesman, said: “This mission is known as a compassionate flight, which is something that we do for service personnel if a family member is very seriously ill and we will pull out all the stops to make sure this person gets back safely and on time.”
Sea King Helicopter in Mercy Dash
A SUFFOLK search and rescue helicopter was involved in an emergency mission today to fly an airman to see a sick relative.
An RAF helicopter crew from Wattisham Airfield flew to Stansted airport at 4.20am to collect an airman who had to make an emergency flight back from an RAF base in Cyprus when a close relative became very seriously ill in Middlesborough.
But the mission of mercy became more complicated when the helicopter was not permitted to enter or land at Stansted because of noise restrictions and the fact that the flight was not scheduled.
The Sea King was then forced to fly to Boreham Airfield, in Hertfordshire, and a taxi was summoned to collect the RAF airman from Stansted Airport to the awaiting helicopter.
The man was then able to board the Sea King at Boreham Airfield and travel back to his sick relative.
The helicopter arrived back at Wattisham Airfield at 9.40am.
Dave Webster, an RAF search and rescue force spokesman, said: “This mission is known as a compassionate flight, which is something that we do for service personnel if a family member is very seriously ill and we will pull out all the stops to make sure this person gets back safely and on time.”