The National Airborne Service Corps, Ministry of the Interior hosted a ceremony today (11th) to honor the role models of the Airborne Corps. General Commander Jing Yan-Yuan presented certificates to role models that performed outstandingly in 2023 to honor the colleagues of the National Airborne Corps, and the staff members of the Air Rescue Team of the Coast Guard Administration and Special Search and Rescue Team of the Fire Department. Jing Yan-Yuan expressed that the National Airborne Corps is the only national air force that serves the people. When the life and property of people are in danger, the National Airborne Corps will always save lives and property immediately, being the “guardian angels” of the rescued and their families.
After the lifting of the epidemic and the opening of the mountains and forest, there are increasing numbers of mountaineering disasters, rendering more difficulty in rescue missions. Jing Yan-Yuan expressed that when the pilots are carrying the helmet bags in their hands during their missions, they seem to “carry their own heads.” When they are encountering danger and saving people at the same time, they are risking their own lives. In each mission, there are at least 5 Airborne Corps’ staff members, i.e. 5 families, on the helicopter. In each family, there are parents and parents-in-laws. Then, it adds up to 15 families. If there are paramedics and patients on the plane, more families are involved. Therefore, we have to thank the colleagues of the National Airborne Corps and the staff members of the collaborative teams for their dedication.
The National Airborne Corps expressed that the winners in this year include three pilots: Tsai Ming-Chia, Chen Kuo-Sheng, and Hsiao Tien-Yu, two crew members: Li Yao-Yi and Sun Ching-Chung, a staff member of the Airborne Corps Tseng Ssu-Yuan, and two staff members from the collaborative teams: Chen Tien-Lung of the Coast Guard Administration and Huang Po-Tsang of the Fire Department.
Among the winners, Tsai Ming-Chia, a pilot in command, carried out a mission in January 2023 to transport a patient in an emergency. In this mission, he was responsible for carrying a patient, suffering from multiple organ failure, to receive intensive care, as well as a nurse and the patient’s family from Kinmen to Songshan Airport. As soon as the helicopter landed, the ground staff escorted the patient to Taipei Veterans General Hospital for further treatment. Tsai “completed the mission perfectly, regarding safety as the first priority,” the National Airborne Corps’ spirit. Chen Kuo-Sheng, a pilot in command, saved a female mountain climber that was waiting for rescue at the 3195 Fengnan campsite at Renai Township in Nantou County because of a broken right arm. Chen and the crews arrived at the destination and completed all the evaluation items before helping the patient into the helicopter. When the staff members of the special rescue team had ensured the patient’s safety, they returned to Hualien Baseball Stadium. As soon as they landed, the patient was handed to the ground paramedics for further treatment. Finally, the wounded was saved assuredly. In May 2023, Hsiao Tien-Yu, a pilot in command, carried out a fire fighting mission on the slope of Chongde Village at Tianliao. On that day, the pilot carried a helicopter bucket to fetch water from Agongdian Reservoir to Longxiang Park. Confirming the destination with the ground firefighting command, he smothered the fire at the spot with identifiable fire and thick smoke. In total, 16 tons of water were poured over 8 times to smother the fire completely.
The National Airborne Corps pointed out that no matter whether they are pilots, crew chiefs, or collaborative staff, they have to cooperate seamlessly with high team spirit during rescue missions in order to save people’s lives. In mountaineering disasters, beach rescue, emergency medical missions, or air transportation of rescue staff, equipment, and supplies, while facing bad weather, dangerous high mountains, and roaring waves, they have to stay calm and perform professionally to save people’s lives. Up to now, the Corps has saved 8,105 people successfully, performing the role of air rescue for the people and of the people.
▲A paramedics mission
▲A mountaineering disaster mission