Hsu Kuo-yung, the Minister of the Interior attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the Taitung Station of the National Airborne Service today (23rd). Hsu Kuo-yung said that the space of the Taitung Station of the National Airborne Service is currently narrow and only two Black Hawk helicopters can be stationed. Thanks to the Ministry of National Defense and the Taitung County Government for allocating land for National Airborne Service for free to build a new hangar, which is expected to be completed in 3 years. 3 Black Hawk helicopters then can be stationed there to strengthen the eastern air rescue capability.
Minister Hsu and VIP guests conduct groundbreaking ceremony
Hsu Kuo-yung said that since the National Airborne Service stationed in Taitung in 2004, it has successfully rescued 916 people, that is, 916 families. Every mission is taking great risks. In addition to ensuring the safety of the people, it is also required to support the needs of disaster relief, rescue, forest fire fighting, and land monitoring. The responsible areas include Orchid Island and Green Island, which are more complicated duty environments than Taiwan Main Island. Therefore, it is necessary to set up a station in Taitung with a complete supply function and good facilities.
Photos of Minister Hsu and colleagues stationed in Taitung
The Ministry of the Interior pointed out that the new National Airborne Service station in Taitung obtained part of the land of the Fengnian Airport for free from the Ministry of National Defense and the Taitung County Government. A service building and a helicopter hangar will be built, and taxiways, helicopter pads and helicopter cleaning areas connected to the airport runway will also be built. With a total funding of more than NT$400 million, it is scheduled to be completed in 2023. In the future, in addition to 3 Black Hawk helicopters it can accommodate more fleets and personnel, and it will also become a National Airborne Service training base.
With the strong support of President Tsai Ing-wen and Premier Su Tseng-chang, starting from July this year, the government has specially adjusted the remuneration of National Airborne Service members to encourage continued service for the country. The National Airborne Service Corps emphasized that it will follow the President’s instructions to accelerate the construction of Taitung and Songshan stations so as to complete the establishment of the five major bases of the National Airborne Service Corps to strengthen the national three-dimensional disaster relief effectiveness, and ensure the safety of people’s lives and property.
The distinguished guests attending the ground-breaking ceremony included Interior Minister Hsu Kuo-yung, Taitung County Mayor Yao Ching-ling, and National Airborne Service Corps Captain Ching Yen-yuan. The ceremony was simple and grand.