Page:Report of the Board of Inquiry into the Helderberg air disaster.djvu/83

Rh Rescue Centre (SARC) of the State of Registry. Plaisance ATC was asked if assistance was required and was informed that a Lockheed 382 aeroplane would be ready to depart from Jan Smuts Airport at 08:00 on November 28th 1987.

At 02:29 an Air Mauritius helicopter and a Mauritius Police helicopter departed for a search North of Mauritius. They were followed at 02:40 by a DHC-6 (Twin Otter) of Air Mauritius and a Transall of the French Air Force at 02:40. The search areas were extended to areas West, North-east and South-west of the island but nothing was found. At 12:47 the crew of a Beech 18 aeroplane, who took part in the search on their own initiative, saw wreckage pieces 136 nm North-east of Plaisance. At 15:20 the SARC issued a situation report giving the following information: "Position of accident site at 1904S and 5936E. One empty dinghy and some debris located including one escape chute, something resembling a kerosene tank and some luggage. Two ships proceeding to the accident site, estimated time of arrlval 21:00. A search craft has dropped an emergency locator beacon to mark the accident site. The search will continue at first light (01:12) on November 29th. French C160, United States of America (USA) P3 Orion and Air Mauritius Aircraft will continue search for survivors as from dawn on 29th. Sea search is being carried out by a Mauritian