Keelung city fire Department organized the 2016 joint search and rescue exercise at Keelung City Nuannuan Park on Oct 5 2016. National Airborne Service Corps deployed a UH-1H, numbered NA-519, from Squadron 2, 1st Wing (stationed at Songshan Airport) for support.
The Corps dispatched a helicopter and flight instructor for the 2-stage training exercise. Stage 1 was the introduction to the history and mission of the Corps, the presentation of how a helicopter is dispatched for mission, as well as several rescue examples in real life. Stage 2 was the introduction to the hand signals used in directing helicopters, such as telling the pilot to maneuver the aircraft and the air crew to control the hoist to move up and down while keeping an eye on the surrounding. The introduction also consisted of mission briefing, weather forecasts, aircraft status, air crew, mission overview, duty equipment, communications, emergency procedures, mission risks, required action guidelines and precautions before taking off. Finally, it was the practice of ascending onto and descending from the hovering helicopter.
The purpose of this training was to help the trainees learn more about the role of helicopters in firefighting and disaster rescue and the benefits they provide for these missions. The execution of joint air search and rescue training contributes to the integration of rescue capacity in the air and on the ground, reduce loss of lives and properties to disasters and improve emergency response and handling capability.