Search crews to go to Afghanistan

One in five of Britain's RAF helicopter rescue crews is to be sent into military service in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence has said.

Each of Britain's six RAF search and rescue stations will see the number of four-strong crews available for rescue missions cut from five to four.

They will pilot transport helicopters serving British troops.

The MoD said the move, in 2011/2012, would not limit search and rescue efforts.

'World's best'

Helicopters are a preferred mode of transporting troops in Afghanistan, as they avoid the risk of roadside bombs.

The crews will be sent to Helmand province in the south of the country to extend the number of hours military helicopters are able to stay in the air.

An MoD spokesman said: "The RAF search and rescue teams are the most dedicated and professional in the world.

"We have to focus our resources on the front line"
MoD spokesman

"Changes have been made to crew structures at these bases in order to provide additional support to our top priority, operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"This will not affect normal search and rescue capability, and our support to civil authorities during recent flooding shows our ability to respond flexibly to extraordinary requirements."

He added: "Operations are always our priority. We have to focus our resources on the front line."

The crews that will be leaving for Afghanistan currently work alongside four civilian coastguard and two Royal Navy teams at search and rescue centres based in England, Scotland and Wales.

RAF RESCUE CENTRES

• RAF Boulmer, Northumberland
• Defence School of Transport, Leconfield, Yorkshire
• RAF Lossiemouth, Moray
• Royal Marine base, Chivenor, Devon
• RAF Valley, Isle of Anglesey
• Wattisham Airfield, Suffolk

Each of the six centres operate two helicopters, with five four-person crews flying them on rotation.

There is currently a response time of 15 minutes, and the helicopters ensure nowhere in the UK is more than an hour's flight away, or an hour and a half at night.

On Thursday Defence Secretary Des Browne met military and civil service chiefs to discuss ways of increasing helicopter capacity.

One option under consideration is to rent helicopters from other countries or commercial companies to bridge any shortfalls in Iraq and Afghanistan.

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