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NEW SARAWAK TRIBUNE • MONDAY AUGUST 23, 2021 9 ADVENTURE ON MY FIRST EVER HELICOPTER RIDE SHARIZAL(left) with Robert in the helicopter’s cockpit. Part one of a three-part series BY SARAH HAFIZAH CHANDRA [email protected] A view of the vast greenery along the flight path. Just like other grounded frequent flyers, it has been more than a year since I was on an aircraft AgustaWestland AW139 9M- of Sarawak Regional Air Base or travelled outside Kuching. BOD helicopter to land at the Bomba Malaysia in Miri, It honestly feels like a lifetime headquarters’ helipad. explained that the AQM is very ago and the blame can be easily The medium utility helicopter important to the Bomba aircrew. put on the current Covid-19 is often used in Bomba’s He revealed that during the pandemic that has posed various firefighting, disaster relief, initial setup of the unit, the AQM challenges in all aspects of life search and rescue (SAR), aerial was trained by the air force. including travelling. surveillance as well as aerial “Generally, the AQM’s job So, imagine the excitement command and control. With is to assist the pilots in flight safety, and to ensure that tasks and nervousness I felt when I the ongoing National Covid- A selfie with the gorgeous was presented with an exclusive 19 Immunisation Programme are successfully carried out. view of the greenery. invitation and opportunity (NCIP), it is also deployed to During the take-off and landing, to experience how the state assist in the delivery of vaccines, the AQM will check and make Fire and Rescue Department particularly to Sarawak’s vast sure that the surrounding of (Bomba) conducted its aerial interior. the aircraft is clear of obstacles Lundu, Stinggang, Bau, Kuching Sarawak is indeed well on reconnaissance on August 20. The helicopter was piloted by as pilots are limited to forward City and back to the base. The its way to becoming one of the I was indeed humbled by Senior Fire Supt II Robert James views only. flight was given green light to most developed states in the the invitation from Bomba with Deputy Senior Fire Supt II “The AQM also checks the operate at a flying altitude of country. In spite of its various director Khirudin Drahman that Sharizal Sahari as co-pilot. The condition of the landing surface 1,500 feet and below by the air development projects, it still has I requested to be recalled for air quartermaster (AQM) was so that the aircraft can fully land traffic control (ATC). a large green area, especially work on my day off in order to Assistant Fire Supt Muhammad to prevent the wheels from About 30 minutes into within Kuching City centre. go for my first ever helicopter Ubadah Shuib. slipping, skidding or sinking the flight, I lost track of the Having said that, I do hope that ride scheduled at 2.30pm that While some people are beyond limit. Besides direction and location Sarawak’s lush greenery will not day. familiar with pilots and what this, the AQM will where we were be replaced by concrete jungles in With butterflies in my they do, I believe there are operate the hoist flying. I began the future. It honestly felt surreal stomach, I arrived at the Bomba many others, including yours for winching to feel slightly to see an aerial view of different Headquarters at Jalan Setia truly, who have never heard of operations nauseous shades of green covering the land Raja almost an hour earlier the AQM. and also We flew low and because the of my beloved city. and waited excitedly for the Robert, also the commander operate the cargo hook the picturesque view pilot made At the same time, my equipment a few steep admiration for Bomba grew for Bambi of the vast greenery turns and and I was curious to know more (FROM left): because about its helicopter operations Sharizal, Khirudin, bucket and that Sarawak was Sarawak Federal underslung of the and missions. Various questions Secretary Datuk Amir operations,” blessed with took my vibrations popped into my head like Omar and Robert. he expla breath away. in my ears. how the crew carried out their -ined. We flew respective roles, how they Robert low and the spotted victims in SAR and many added that picturesque more. AQM is essentially view of the After the one hour and 25 an extra pair of eyes vast greenery that minutes’ journey, I did not for the pilots as he would Sarawak was blessed with hesitate to seize the opportunity also assist in flight navigation took my breath away. I couldn’t to speak to both the pilot and and check the surrounding air help but looked all around and co-pilot and bombarded them traffic during flights. took many pictures along the with queries, especially on their Before our helicopter took way. experiences in the delivery of off, the co-pilot gave a safety If I was allowed to move Covid-19 vaccines to areas like briefing and explained the flight around in the helicopter, I would Long Teru, Long Jegan and Long route would be from the Bomba have moved from one seat to Kevok. These I will share in an Headquarters to Santubong, another! upcoming write-up. NEW SARAWAK TRIBUNE • TUESDAY AUGUST 24, 2021 9 WELFARE NO OBSTACLE TOO GREAT FOR BOMBA AIR UNIT Part two of a three-part series BY SARAH HAFIZAH CHANDRA [email protected] Do you know that the State Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) air unit at the Sarawak Regional Air Base Bomba Malaysia in Miri is playing an important role in battling the Covid- 19 pandemic in Sarawak? It is busy helping Sarawak to THE delivery of vaccines achieve its target of vaccinating 80 to the interior of Sarawak. THE helicopter percent of its population against the winching technique. virus by this month by delivering the vaccines to remote settlements in the state’s vast interior. “We will plan the flight route and Robert said the air unit must be in five rural areas, namely Long the vaccine delivery exercise in Senior Fire Supt II and calculate the duration of the flight extra cautious in carrying out the Jegan, Long Teru, Ulu Teru, Long Sarawak. commander of Sarawak Regional because we have to calculate our vaccine delivery operations. Teran and Long Loyang which were He said most of the areas in Air Base Bomba Malaysia, Robert fuel consumption. The fuel is one “Apart from ensuring the safety badly affected by floods in July. Malaya were accessible by road. James disclosed that the air unit is of the main concerns because it of all on board the aircraft, the He explained that winching “We only have to navigate the working closely with the Sarawak will affect the weight of the cargo safety of the precious cargo is also was the process of lowering down Titiwangsa mountains which are Disaster Management Committee and number of passengers the very crucial. or picking up a person using the familiar to us. But in Sarawak, there (SDMC) and Ministry of Health helicopter can accommodate. “There are a number of safety sling attached to the winch of the are different types of terrains and (MoH) to deliver the Covid-19 “We also have to check the and precautionary measures that helicopter. the weather changes fast here. vaccines to the rural communities in weather forecast. It is important the aircrew and passengers must “It requires the pilot to maintain “Delivering the vaccines to Sarawak, especially in Miri, Limbang to look at the wind moisture and observe. For instance, they must a very good and steady hover to Long Kevok was rather difficult and Kapit. temperature as these can affect embark and disembark from the ensure the crew can get down because of these. Nonetheless, I He said from June 3 until Aug the flight in some way such as aircraft accordingly and in a proper safely. The air crew is very fortunate have made prior preparation and all 20, the air unit had successfully causing visibility issues, turbulence manner. to have an aircraft that can do risks were calculated to ensure that covered 33 locations, namely 26 and overall performance. If the “In addition to that, we also winching,” he said. the aircrew, passengers, helicopter for the delivery of vaccines and weather does not permit, we will pay close attention to the landing Meanwhile, Deputy Senior Fire and precious cargo arrive safely on seven for food assistance. Among not proceed but continue the flight surfaces and areas. The landing Supt II Sharizal Sahari, who is based locations and all of us could return the locations covered were Bario, the next day,” he explained. surfaces must be solid and in good in the Bomba Malaysia Northern home safely,” he explained. Mulu, Ba’ Kelalan, Long Bedian, He added that the air unit condition. If they are uneven or Region Air Base in Bertam, Pulau Apart from doing heroic acts Long Liaw, Long Sukang and Long would get in touch with a contact muddy, it will be unstable and Penang, admitted that piloting in the event of emergencies to Kevok. person at the respective locations dangerous for us to land,” he aircraft in Sarawak was more save the lives of those in danger, “Despite the challenges of to ask about the added. challenging than in Malaya. Bomba and its air unit are also busy reaching the respective locations conditions at the Robert recalled that the air crew Despite the challenges, he is saving lives during the Covid-19 while ensuring that the Covid- landing areas.

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