Government Flying Service

The Government Flying Service (GFS) is a disciplined service providing
flying support to departments and agencies of the HKSAR Government. It
also directly supports the community by offering a 24-hour air ambulance
and Search and Rescue service.

The GFS operates a fleet of 11 aircraft: six Sikorsky S-76 and three S-70
(Black Hawk) helicopters and two Beech Super King Air aeroplanes. In
1997 the GFS flew a total of 6 603 hours in support of its clients and in
training for the complex roles undertaken. The organisation is staffed by
184 disciplined and 67 general grade personnel. The GFS carries out most
of the maintenance work in its headquarters in Kowloon Bay.

The GFS undertakes a variety of roles which include supporting the Hong
Kong Police Force in law enforcement duties, assisting the Fire Services
Department by water-bombing hill fires using the underslung fire bucket,
and aerial mapping and survey for the Lands Department. In 1997 the
GFS also transported 1 428 patients to hospital by helicopter, assisted in
111 Search and Rescue operations and flew approximately 20 905
government officers and official visitors in the course of their duties.

The pilot localisation scheme continues to progress well and the
department now has 11 qualified local operational helicopter and six local
aeroplane Captains. Another 11 remain under training.

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