I’m interested in understanding:
- How long it typically takes to get a police helicopter launched once a missing-child report is received in regional SA.
This is case by case and depends on several factors (terrain/conditions/circumstances/timeframes/age/resource and team availability/travel time/subjects background info etc.)
Even if the decision to deploy an aircraft is made early, getting it airborne will take some time. Crews are called in, equipment is checked, fuel loaded, flight plan filed etc. I don’t have data on average ground to air timeframes but looking over the extensive SAR procedures does provide some clues.
- Whether this timing is consistent with normal procedure or if there are usually faster deployments.
The timing could be explained by operational and logistical factors common in Australian search and rescue cases. The sequence of events below demonstrate SAR procedures in cases similar to Gus’s and may provide some insight:
1. Gus is reported missing around 20:30, emergency response must first assess risk and determine the urgency level, verify details and identify suitable resources for deployment. The immediate line of enquiry also determines the initial strategy (in this case, a ground search team was mobilised, followed by the aircraft.)
2. POL53 was based at Adelaide, crew had to be alerted, briefed and the aircraft prepared for flight. Night time operations may require additional checks (fuel/weather/air traffic clearance.)
3. Adelaide to Jamestown flight times would also depend on several factors. Based on knowing absolutely nothing about helicopters, best I can offer is a questionable estimate of roughly 1-2+ hours in optimal conditions. This tiki tour may have been a staging point for crew to meet coordinators or access communication infrastructure and resources.
4. Aircraft operations likely require liaison with ground teams before entering a search area to ensure coverage is coordinated and any updates are reported.
- And whether this affects anyone’s view of the official timeline
Not really no, although public information is still fairly minimal for this case.
Is it possible aircrew had been instructed to search the wider area before arriving at the scene? SAR had been on foot at the property for some time covering the initial radius, potentially identifying the need to widen the search area. Given the time between the last sighting, the missing persons report, the arrival of SAR and the limited visibility, a wider search radius is plausible.
