New Zealand Defence Force
Te Ope Kaatua O Aotearoa

Media Release
10 August 2009
Air Force Orion In Kiribati Search And Rescue

A Royal New Zealand Air Force P-3K Orion left Air Force Base Whenuapai early this afternoon bound for Kiribati on a search and rescue mission.

The aircraft has been tasked by the Rescue Coordination Centre Fiji (RCC Fiji) to search for a missing 16ft fishing vessel with three people on board.

The vessel left Tarawa Atoll early on Saturday morning to fish between Tarawa and Maiana atolls and was scheduled to return to Tarawa later that morning.

A local Navy patrol vessel has been searching for the missing ship, but RCC Fiji has requested airborne surveillance.

The Orion will arrive in the Marshall Islands tonight and begin its search tomorrow.

Commanding Officer of Number 5 Squadron, Wing Commander Nick Olney said it has been a busy time for the squadron in recent weeks.

“This is the fourth international call out for the Squadron in 10 days and it is a timely reminder for all ocean goers, recreational or otherwise, to ensure they are equipped for the environment and the unexpected.”

There are currently 634 New Zealand Defence Force personnel deployed on 14 operations, UN missions and defence exercises in 10 countries around the world.

Background Notes

• The RNZAF maintains a P-3K Orion and crew on 24-hour search and rescue call out 365 days a year. A permanent crew is always on two hour call-out standby.
• The P-3K Orion has a flight endurance of around 15 hours during search and rescue operations.
• Search and rescue flying hours are funded from the annual RNZAF budget.

ENDS

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