Air Force unit vital asset

Four specially equipped helicopters and trained crews stationed at Fairchild Air Force Base are universally praised by thankful civilian emergency services officials as a vital element to search and rescue throughout the region.

The 36th Rescue Flight has been based at Fairchild since the mid-1970s to support the Air Force Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape School. However, as a byproduct of their training and availability, the crews and helicopters have been credited with saving about 625 people in the Pacific Northwest, according to U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rogers, who worked last summer to assure the unit wasn’t relocated out of the area under military downsizing.

The unit responded to nine civilian rescue situations in 2007. In the past four years, the helicopters have flown 47 civilian search-and-rescue missions with nine requests unfilled because of weather or unavailability.

The helicopters are equipped with infrared to detect bodies as well as GPS navigation and cable hoists to deliver medics or evacuate victims where landing is impossible.

Civilian officials say they could never afford to have that equipment or crew available for SAR if the Air Force couldn’t share the unit with the public.