AirSearch STRUCTURE :
In order to incorporate an extensive policy of mentoring, training and the maximum emphasis on safety, the structure of AirSearch consists of Local Flights, County Wings and Regional Groups.
1. Flight - any number of aircraft. County Wing minimum of three pilot members who own their own aircraft or have access to aircraft. A Regional Group consists of three or more counties.
2. Each Flight or Wing is administered by a Co-ordinator who must be an experienced pilot, minimum 250 hours flight time and an appropriate level of experience, endorsed by the Training Officer and/or the Safety Officer. For endorsement photo copy of licence and the last two pages of log book, plus summary of experience and ratings, and any relevant personal background must be provided via the Membership Secretary for the attention of either the Safety Officer or the Training Officer.
A Group Co-ordinator has to qualify as above but may only be appointed by the Co-ordinators Board.
3. “Attached” Status : A Flight or Wing may temporarily operate on a “Attached” basis under the mentoring and supervision of the Co-ordinator of a Wing designated for this purpose by the Training Officer and/or the Safety Officer.
4. Training : AirSearch has a philosophy of joint mentoring when two pilots or a pilot and observer fly together. Any formal flying training instruction of an AirSearch pilot must only be undertaken by a qualified flying instructor.
5. Control : AirSearch’s overall control is by its members for its members. Wing and Group members are represented by their Co-ordinators at Co-ordinators meetings.
6. Voting : Each Co-ordinator registers all Wing/Group members with a central AirSearch member register. The number of members each Co-ordinator registers count for the same number as the Co-ordinators Block Vote.
7. Block Vote : On any proposal the Co-ordinators organise meetings to determine their members' desire. The number of No votes and the number of Yes votes are calculated and the simple majority in favour of either is declared as the result and the democratic desire of the Wing/Group. The Co-ordinator then casts the entire Block Vote at the Co-ordinators Meeting.
CONSTITUTION
1. AirSearch is an association of amateur and professional precision flying enthusiasts who specialise in air searching exercises. We do not consider ourselves an emergency service although the specialist skills of our pilots might from time to time be of simple assistance to the community and the emergency services - and in such cases we donate our time, aircraft and expenses completely free of charge. Only very experienced pilots who have achieved the qualified standard on the AirSearch training programme may respond to requests for assistance.
2. AirSearch is composed of local Flights, County Wings and Regional Groups which provides a structured mentoring and monitoring training programme and safety structure. This enables Flights containing less experienced pilots to be organised and controlled by more experienced people in their Flights and Groups.
3. Air Search is managed by the Co-ordinators Board made up of all the Wing and Group Co-ordinators. Specialist Board Members are :
- Founder Arnold Parker, Royal Aero Club Commendation (only two are issued per year) and founder of the concept of voluntary air observation and search in the UK.
- National Representative Peter Adams, a Liveryman of the Guild of Air Pilots & Navigators
- Training Officer Nigel Hoult a Senior BA Captain & BA Training Officer, an ex Search & Rescue pilot who has served in numerous locations including the Falklands mainly flying Sea King helicopters.
- Safety Officer Stephen Hayman, a senior Thomas Cook Airline Captain who is also an experienced Airline Safety Officer.
- Membership Secretary. Peter Adams, Acting.
- Web Site Officer. Luke Challinger - An observer with South East Airsearch in Kent and the surrounding home counties. A serving Police officer and keen aviation enthusiast who has done attachments to the Police helicopter Air Support unit, who, might one day, actually take the plunge and go all the way and obtain his very own PPL.
- Honorary President (Non-Executive) (Posthumous) Wg. Cdr. Ken Wallis MBE., recognised as the world’s leading expert on autogyro’s (AirSearch extensively uses the unique precision flying features of autogyro’s and operates the largest co-ordinated fleet of autogyro’s in Europe). Sadly passed away in August 2013.
4. AirSearch precision flying search activity is on a team basis with observer/s looking out of the aircraft whilst the pilot deals with the safe flying of the aircraft abiding by the AirSearch Code of Conduct :
- An Air Search Pilot will only operate within the privileges of his/her licence and in accordance with Air Law and the UK Air Navigation Order (ANO).
- The first priority of an Air Search Pilot is the safety of his/her aircraft and passengers.
- An Air Search Aircraft will immediately depart an incident upon the arrival of a professional emergency services aircraft unless requested to remain.
5. AirSearch deliberately does not request to be registered as a charity or receive any lottery funding, because, although its members do not regard themselves as wealthy they are from that sector of the community where horse, boat and aircraft ownership is relatively common. Children in Need, NSPCC, Help for Heroes, Air Ambulances etc, have more need of the public’s money than us. AirSearch also feels this is an important endorsement of its completely unpaid status.