Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan conducted search and rescue coordination exercises in Almaty region. The exercises were held with the participation of specialists from the Search and Rescue Coordination Center and Air Traffic Services of the South-Eastern Regional ATS Center of the Kazaeronavigatsia RSE, the emergency rescue team of the Boraldai airfield, the helicopter crew and representatives of Kazaviaspas JSC. Depending on the type of exercise and scenario, ground forces of the Ministry of Emergency Situations may be used.

The exercises were conducted as part of oversight activity for search and rescue support of civil and experimental aviation.

According to the legend of the exercise, during the day, in visual flight conditions, a blip from an air ambulance aircraft en-route Almaty – Balkhash disappeared from the radar displays. The crew did not respond to controllers’ calls via available communication channels. Staff of the ATS service notified the search and rescue coordination center, which determined the necessary forces and means, as well as the location of the proposed search and rescue operation. Duty helicopter of Kazaviaspas with the emergency rescue team of Boraldai airfield was lifted from the Boraldai airfield. After entering the search area, the crew used a tacking technique to spot the location of the alleged event. Due to well-coordinated work of all interacting parties, the place of the event was quickly discovered and the “passengers and crew” were loaded into a helicopter for delivery to the Boraldai airfield.

Briefings with the participating parties were held after exercises to define the area to which attention should be paid and to improve the efficiency of search rescue activity.