So your deputy officer in charge is not at the Aero Club, where is he, and what is he doing?

‘The Black Summer’

…well, I was deployed in December to manage the military’s fire service response in the Falkland Islands. At Mount Pleasant Complex we operate an international airport supporting operations in the South Atlantic, and Antarctic region. The aircraft we support range from military transport, fighter, commercial and passenger aircraft. In addition the RAF fire service responds to a wide variety of incidents from road traffic collisions, animal rescues to wild fires, and we also provide regulatory advice and training to base staff.

Following my New Year’s Eve swim in the Atlantic Ocean, which was a beautiful and cold day, I joined the crew of Green Watch to walk from MPC to the capital in breathing apparatus to support Australia’s Bush Fire Appeal. Spanning 34 miles on difficult terrain, teams of three completed legs of four miles each. Starting from 12 Facility Reception at 8 o’clock, we did the first leg of 4.2 miles in 50 minutes; the whole task was completed by late afternoon. The fire services of Stanley, and Stanley Airport met up along the way to show their support and admiration for the fire fighters trying to overt human tragedy, loss of property and the devastating effects of fire to wildlife in fire ravaged regions of Australia.

To date, the South Atlantic fire services, with the help of military personnel and the kind donations of the Falklands community have so far raised £2400 in cash and pledges. If you would like to support this charity, please use the just giving link provided by the Salvation Army to donate whatever you can to help the Australian communities rebuild their lives. 

(Click on the button below to go to the JustGiving page.)