Overwhelming demand on Search and Rescue (SAR) helicopters during the extreme winter weather has underlined the need to keep 24-hour cover at RMB Chivenor, say Pembrokeshire’s AMs.
Choppers from military search and rescue teams have been called upon to help deal with a record number of 999 calls, many of which were unreachable because of the snow.
Latest figures show that RAF rescue helicopters across the UK have been called out 100 times in the first ten days of the year – double the usual rate.
“The exceptionally high call-out rate has underlined the case for keeping Chivenor operating 24 hours,” said South Pembrokeshire AM Angela Burns.
The Ministry of Defence plans to reduce rescue helicopter cover at RMB Chivenor from 24 hours to 12 hours – meaning that any night time emergency in Pembrokeshire will have to be answered by choppers from bases further afield.
“If a night time emergency happens then helicopters will be sent from RAF Valley, RNAS Culdrose or MCA Lee on Solent,” she added.
“We know that this will take up to 41 minutes longer than sending one from Chivenor. But if we are to get another exceptionally snowy winter patch then these other helicopters will already be working at full stretch.”
Preseli Pembrokeshire AM Paul Davies added: “The next nearest station to us is RAF Valley which is six minutes further flying time away. But this January, with the hill walkers and ice climbers flocking to Snowdonia, their crews have been exceptionally busy.
“I am extremely concerned that if we get another period of extreme winter weather after Chivenor has been downgraded then there could be fatal consequences.”
*The “Keep Chivenor 24 hours” Facebook group has now reached the 10,000 member mark. You can join at www.facebook.com
