A view from the ARCC: Aviation search and rescue


After many years of being run from RAF Kinloss, the way that emergencies involving and needing aircraft are handled is changing this Spring. The Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre (ARCC), which is part of HM Coastguard, is building on the work done by the RAF since 1941 at its new centre in Fareham, Hampshire, as it takes over operations. Mark Chamberlain is one of those working the new ARCC. Here's his view of his new role: 

Mark Chamberlain
Can you teach an old dog new tricks? I’ll give you my answer in part at the end of the blog, but I suspect that the full answer may have to wait a little longer…

So who am I? I’m Mark Chamberlain and I’m one of the lucky few to have been selected as one of HM Coastguards’ new SAOOs, that is Senior Aeronautical Operations Officer, working in the ARCC. I come to the Coastguard after a 24 year career in the Royal Navy where amongst other roles I was a helicopter controller, and then a 14 year career in IT ending in managing support services to the RN and the Army.

But then I thought about a third career. And that was the moment a friend mentioned to me about a new role in HM Coastguard. It was a job working with helicopters and would mean wearing a uniform. No question about it, I was interested. I submitted my application with excitement and a little bit of trepidation. And on 1st June last year, my new career began.

It's been a roller coaster since with periods of frantic activity followed by periods of consolidation, all mixed in with watching in amazement as young, dedicated Coastguards provide a lifesaving service to those in need. The overall highlight so far has been becoming a member of a dedicated and professional team, who take pride in what they do and WANT to be there. There are many challenging aspects however - stepping up to HM Coastguard’s very high standards and values has been by far the biggest through the professional training. It’s been much more intense than I would have imagined, yet much more enjoyable as a result.

I knew what the Coastguard did. Or so I thought. In reality I didn’t know the half of it. It’s broader and more exciting and I now look forward with focus and determination to fulfil the role we’re training for, doing the job for real and helping to make a difference in search and rescue.

What do we do? As a team we respond to requests for helicopter support from the Police, Ambulance Service, Fire Service and of course HM Coastguard. 

We make sure the most appropriate air asset from one of the current eleven HM Coastguard search and rescue helicopter bases around the UK, is assigned to a specific incident, which could be a fallen walker in the mountains of Wales or Scotland, or picking up a crew of a sinking vessel or a medical transfer of a seriously ill person.  

It’s a challenging but extremely rewarding role and one that I wouldn’t change for the world.

So. Can you teach an old dog new tricks? Well, so far, the answer seems to be a resounding ‘Yes.’



Popular posts from this blog

PRESTWICK SEARCH AND RESCUE HELICOPTER SERVICE LAUNCH MARKED IN CEREMONY

Image
- Prestwick search and rescue helicopter base set to go live in January - The launch of the Prestwick civilian UK search and rescue (SAR) helicopter service was marked today (Thursday 17 December 2015) in a ceremony held at the new Coastguard SAR base at Prestwick Airport. Bristow Helicopters Ltd is operating the search and rescue helicopter service for the UK on behalf of HM Coastguard. The UK limited company was awarded the ten-year UK SAR contract by the Department for Transport in March 2013, representing a £1.9bn investment by the UK Government in the UK’s search and rescue helicopter service. By 2017 the service will be delivered from ten bases in all, strategically located close to areas of high SAR incident rates. The Prestwick base will begin SAR operations when crews begin receiving taskings from the Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre (ARCC) in January 2016. Bristow crews are delivering the UK SAR helicopter service on behalf of HM Coastguard with state-of-the-a...
Read more

Coastguard scoops stricken man from surging waves

Image
Senior Coastal Operations Officer Ryan Gray A man facing the threat of being dashed on the rocks by powerful waves was rescued by a coastguard who hauled him o ut of the surging water.   The alarm was raised at about 9.45am at Skippingstone beach, Bangor, on 1 October when a member of the public reported their concern for a person they had spotted struggling on rocks being pounded by the s e a .   The 999 call was picked up at Belfast Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre which swiftly sent Bangor Coastguard Rescue Team (CRT) and the local RNLI inshore lifeboat.   First on the scene was Senior Coastal Operations Officer Ryan Gray who, taking in the situation, quic k ly donned a personal float at ion device a ttached to a line.   As the sea surged, Ryan shouted a warning to the man before, seconds later , a wave picked the figure up and threw him to the shore.   The powerful surge carried him up the beach where Ryan was able to step forward and seiz...
Read more

BOSCASTLE FLOODS: TEN YEARS ON

Image
Boscastle Flooding 16 th August 2004 The storms of Monday 16 August 2004 saw three weeks worth of rain fall in one day. The resulting water began to be funnelled down the valleys surrounding Boscastle and soon the steep roads became rivers. By the time that the water reached the picturesque village, it had picked up enough momentum to become a raging torrent, sweeping into buildings, washing cars away and felling huge trees. Graham King runs the Witches Museum in Boscastle and was also the station officer for the Boscastle Coastguard Rescue Team at the time of the floods: “ My museum is situated next to the harbour near the river ,” says Graham “ and I can see the coastguard equipment store from there. Initially I was concerned that the vehicle and equipment were going to become stranded but I soon began to realise how quickly the situation was deteriorating and called Falmouth Coastguard ” From that point on the villagers and tourists stranded in flood waters were he...
Read more