Remarks inferring misuse are misplaced
I REFER to the complaint from Mr L. N. Parker which appeared in the South China Morning Post on December 13.
Firstly, may I make it very clear that all the flights referred to were for the purpose of saving life. This was spelt out in Mrs Betty Shum's letter to the Post of December 1, in response to an earlier complaint from Mr Parker. Currently we are reviewing the casualty evacuation mandate, to see if we can reduce the number of flights into the British Military Hospital (BMH), without putting a patient's life at further risk. Regarding the flight into the BMH early on December 6, the length of time spent on the ground is normally dictated by the ambulance crew and the casualty's condition. Some casualties for example have drips attached; it may consequently take more time to lift them from the helicopter into the waiting ambulance.
Mr Parker's remarks inferring misuse of Government Flying Service (GFS) helicopters are misplaced. The helicopter that remained on the ground overnight at the BMH on the night of December 9, did so because it had a technical defect which needed rectification. This was carried out during the following morning, prior to further flight. The casualty that night was in fact a mother with post-natal complications.
With regard to the approach paths used when landing at the BMH, GFS pilots always make the safest approach possible; this takes many factors into consideration and may vary at times with the prevailing weather conditions. Mr Parker may rest assured that GFS pilots do not deliberately fly as close as possible to Wylie Court. They always consider the safety of not only the aircraft, passengers and crew, but also the surrounding area and its residents.
We have a job to do; we do it to the best of our ability, and as safely and considerately as possible within the constraints dictated to us by Hong Kong's geographical makeup and the rules laid down in the Air Navigation (Overseas Territories) Order of 1977. We would be pleased if Mr Parker would like to visit the GFS as our guest so we could more fully explain to him the nature of our work.
C. B. CLUER Controller Government Flying Service
