Exmouth Base Hosts Community Groups for Search and Rescue Presentations

When students from Exmouth District High School toured the Exmouth Bristow base, they interacted with equipment and explored a Search and Rescue (SAR) configured helicopter on the ground. The tour culminated with a SAR simulation in which the students played the part of survivors on a life raft and experienced a mock retrieval into the aircraft.

SAR Captain Mike Nelson and Technical Crew Instructor / Examiner Keith Best facilitated the tour.

“Tours like these help develop understanding of the vital role Bristow plays in emergency response in the community,” said Mike. “Our SAR operations have received media coverage lately, so we wanted to take the opportunity to invite students and teachers to our facility to help them learn about our SAR capabilities and equipment.”

“The tour gave students useful insight into the Bristow mission, and several of the students expressed a desire to one day become involved in SAR operations,” said Keith.

“Please pass on my gratitude and appreciation for the interactive presentation delivered by Keith Best yesterday,” said Exmouth District High School Secondary Deputy Principal Mark Patton. “It was informative, educational and engaging. Keith pitched it perfectly for his teenage audience. Cam Brown, one of the supervising teachers, said it was the best presentation he has seen in a long time. Keith has definitely hooked in a couple of our students who are now interested in pursuing a career in aviation.”

Furthermore on Wednesday September 12, the Exmouth base hosted a group of local State Emergency Service (SES) volunteers, who visited for a tour and presentation on the SAR capabilities Bristow can offer to the North West Region.

On behalf of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) or State Police, Bristow can provide SAR assistance when requested through the Australian SAR (AUSSAR) Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC).

To achieve this, Bristow is supported by its Client in Exmouth, Quadrant Energy, who permits their contracted aircraft and SAR crew to respond enabling this vital service to be available to the remote community.