AFTER nearly two months failing to get a flight from the peninsula to Sarawak, the nine-member replacement crew of the Fire and Rescue Department’s Augusta Westland helicopter unit, based in Miri, will finally be flown in by the air force’s transport aircraft.

After an overnight stay in Kuching, the pilots and technical crew will be flown tomorrow to Miri in a police Beechcraft KingAir 350 turboprop executive aircraft. 

Sarawak fire chief Khirudin Drahman said exigency of service – the floods in Sabah and the threat of a new round of flooding in Sarawak – meant the crew had to report to their unit as soon as possible. 

He said the pandemic was throwing up a lot of hurdles in getting them to Miri. 

The unit flies the Italian-built Augusta Westland AW189 twin-engined, medium-lift helicopter. 

Khirudin said the crew change was normally once in a fortnight but the restrictions in movement into Sarawak and difficulties to get flights to the state meant the current crew had to stay longer than intended. 

Khiruddin said since the replacement crew were categorised as “essential service”, the health protocol they have to observe was slightly different from members of the public returning from high-risk areas. 

However, like everyone entering Sarawak, they have to take a Covid-19 test three days before flying. 

Khiruddin said they have to observe a “limited quarantine”. 

He said they would be kept in isolation while in transit in Kuching and will be confined to base when they arrive in Miri. 

“I am fully responsible for their movement.”

The restrictions in movement however, do not mean the aircrew are grounded.

They will still have to fly missions they are assigned to. – January 22, 2021.