DPR 022/97 Thursday, January 16, 1997

PADS UNSUITABLE FOR RECENT RESCUE

The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Les Fisher, said today it would not have been possible to use Mr Laurence Gruzman's Precision Aerial Deployment System (PADS) in the recent rescues of yachtsmen in the Southern Ocean.

"In it's current configuration, the PADS system is unsuitable for release from long range maritime patrol aircraft and therefore cannot be endorsed for service use," Air Marshal Fisher said.

"The current Air Sea Rescue Kit (ASRK) has only been in service with the RAAF since July 1982 and has been designed for service use in arduous conditions such as the 60 knot plus winds and icy conditions which faced our Orion crews 2,400 kilometres into the Southern Ocean."

Air Marshal Fisher said that contrary to Mr Gruzman's allegations the ASRK was the right system to be used in these rescues.

"During RAAF tests conducted for Air Services Australia, using civilian aircraft in 1995, two unacceptable and nine unsatisfactory deficiencies were found in the PADS," the Air Marshal said. "The most significant deficiency was the impacting of the PADS static line and drogue against the tailplane of the release aircraft rendering the system unsafe."

"Problems were also encountered in more recent tests by Aerospace Technical Services, in November, last year. The RAAF understands that PADS is being further tested and modified for use by civil authorities," he said.

"When PADS is finally approved for use, by Air Services Australia, the RAAF will examine the practicability of dropping it from appropriate service aircraft largely in support of the civil search and rescue organisation," Air Marshal Fisher said.

"The bottom line is that we successfully saved two yachtsmen's lives using our current life raft system," Air Marshal Fisher said.

Further information:
Ken Llewelyn (06) 265 5453 (w) / (018) 622 675