At the 20th anniversary celebration held at NASC Fleet Station at Taichung Airport by the National Air Service Corps, President Lai Ching-Te attended the ceremony in the company of Home Minister Liu Shyh-Fang to comfort and encourage the task force formed by NASC, NFA, and CGA to thank for their efforts and dedications in rescues at the cost of their lives regardless of extreme weathers, harsh terrains, tough marine conditions. Over the past 20 years, the NFAC has executed 28,911 missions to successfully save 8,343 persons. In support of the Executive Yuan, NASC will upgrade the AS-365 Dolphin Fleet in four years starting from 2025. After the upgrading, the AS-365 Dolphin helicopter can be deployed in Songshan, Taichung, and Kaohsiung. By combining with the completion of the NASC Fleet Station at Songshan Airport in 2028, the AS-365 Dolphin will be teamed up with the UH-60 Black Hawk stationed at Songshan Airport for the first time to achieve the low- and high-altitude dispatch to executive all kinds of airborne missions without interruption. NASC also hopes to cooperate with the Ministry of National Defense to advance the completion of this important rescues base to strengthen the airborne rescue power in northern Taiwan and thereby increase the public trust in the government.
According to Home Minister Liu Shyh-Fang, the preparatory office of NASC was formed established in 2004 by merging the Airborne Branch of National Police Agency, the Preparatory Office of the Airborne Fire Fighting Branch of National Fire Agency, the Aviation Team of Civil Aeronautics Administration of Ministry of Transportation and Communications, and the Air Patrol Branch of the Coast Guard Administration. As Taiwan’s only authority taking charge of the dispatch and maintenance of government aircraft, NASC has the following five major missions: disaster relief, search and rescue, emergency medical, reconnaissance, and transportation. Through various fleet adjustment and updates, NASC continuously improves its capabilities in mission execution and flight safety.
Home Minister Liu Shyh-Fang indicated, as the AS-365 Dolphin helicopters of NASC were transferred from the Airborne Branch of National Police Agency, and nine of them are 28 years old and have serviced for 70,000 hours, the Executive Yuan already approved the fleet upgrading medium-term project in 2024 to enhance flight crew safety and mission executability. According to the project, helicopters will be upgraded during 2025-2029 to lessen the aircraft operational burden of and reduce the mission risk for flight crew by functional upgrading alongside advanced search models.
Home Minister Liu Shyh-Fang also presented trophies to eight model flight crew members and commended 46 NASC staff members for 20 years of service. Apart from recognizing the efforts, dedications, and contributions of these airborne rescue heroes, Home Minister Liu Shyh-Fang also thanked their family for their support that enables NASC staff to focus on disaster relief, rescue, and emergency medical services without worries. She also encouraged all to uphold the “Mission Accomplishment and Safety First” concept to accomplish every mission and continue to protect the safety of the life and property of nationals.
