After an extended pause in airborne rescue training, the KwaZulu-Natal Section reactivated its aerial capability with a focused two-day training deployment alongside the South African Air Force’s 87 Helicopter Flying School. Operating from the scenic yet unforgiving terrain of Dragon Peaks in the Central Drakensberg, the teams worked through a comprehensive programme designed to rebuild confidence, proficiency and interoperability in mountain-rescue operations.
The training serials covered the full spectrum of airborne rescue techniques essential for high-risk missions in remote areas. Crews conducted stretcher hoisting, single- and double-person extractions, and trooping evolutions that required precise hover landings on uneven mountain terrain. The demanding drills were executed using the SAAF’s Agusta A109LUH and Oryx helicopters—airframes valued for their agility, power and ability to maintain stable hover profiles in challenging environmental conditions.
Beyond the technical skills, the exercise strengthened coordination between aircrew and ground rescue personnel, ensuring both organisations remain aligned in procedures, safety protocols and mission planning. For many participants, it was a welcome return to joint rotary-wing rescue operations after months without airborne training opportunities.
The KZN Section expressed its appreciation to the South African Air Force for the continued collaboration, noting that such partnerships are vital in sustaining an effective, ready and resilient rescue capability across the region.
Pictures by Mountain Club of SA – Search And Rescue
