Saturday 15 January 2011

RAF Valley is important and essential.

RAF Valley provides a vital service (not forgetting employment), especially its Search and Rescue unit (SAR). The dedication of its staff who risk all; in any weather, to save those in need is beyond doubt.

From BBC News March 2010:

An RAF search and rescue crew based at Valley on Anglesey have received awards for their bravery during flooding at Cockermouth in November 2009.

More than 200 were rescued by emergency services - 50 by RAF helicopters - as water levels reached 2.5m (8ft 2in).

The four crew from Valley, and one other from RAF Boulmer in Northumbria were involved in a 11.5 hour mission.

The Valley crew were the first to be scrambled and they rescued 27 people trapped by flood water in Cumbria......

Read full story: BBC News

I like many others have campaigned against the proposed total privatisation of SAR.

The SAR unit on Valley was established to train RAF staff and to provide an essential means of rescue in the mountains, should one of their planes crash during a low flying exercise.

Whilst we welcome all support for RAF Valley, it is a bit rich that Plaid Cymru on one hand want to defend the RAF SAR service, whilst on the other calling for the banning of all low flying aircraft from North Wales.

Hywel Williams, the Plaid Cymru Member of Parliament for Arfon, said recently “It is high time that areas such as RAF Valley have some certainty.”

You mean the 'certainty' of their (Plaid Cymru) policy, banning all low flying training from North Wales, meaning RAF Valley would shut altogether including the SAR unit?

Or would that be their ‘Bourne defence’.


Post from past:
Dark days ahead for RAF Valley
What is the true cost of sea and air rescue

No comments: