MOSCOW. Sept 9 (Interfax-AVN) - Experts from the Airborne Service and the Rescue Airborne Force of the Strategic Missile Forces aviation are to develop a standard procedure for search and rescue flights.
This is the main objective of the exercise, launched at the central firing range in the Astrakhan region on Thursday, the Strategic Missile Forces press-service told Interfax-Military News Agency.
Experts believe that the standard procedure is essential to provide for safety during training parachute jumps and emergency bailing out exercises.
The exercise, which is to last until September 23, envisions a comprehensive training, involving demonstration parachute jumps and helicopter evacuation of casualties, as well as self-assistance, and assistance to people in distress, and survival under extreme conditions. Participants in the exercise will carry out in excess of 1,100 parachute jumps from fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft both by day and night.
In addition to that, the press-service says that the Strategic Missile Forces aviation rescue teams will be appointed and trained for the 5th Armed Forces aviation rescuers parachute competition, which is slated for October 2004. The Strategic Missile Forces parachute jump team will also train for the 2005 Armed Forces Championship.
The exercise will see participation of over 40 Strategic Missile Forces experts, including heads of search and rescue and airborne services, parachute jump instructors, tasked with search and rescue flight safety, and chief parachute-packers.