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The first of its kind in the UK, this partnership means the Red Cross can call on Sky Watch – a charity with experienced response pilots using light aircraft. Sky Watch pilots will provide vital aerial observation and communications support during emergencies, major incidents, and flood rescue and relief operations across the north of Scotland, with other units also available across the UK.
Ian Rideout, Red Cross operations director in Northern Scotland, said: "This is a fantastic development for the Red Cross and will greatly improve our ability to respond to major emergencies. Sky Watch's support will give us the capacity to very quickly get an idea of where the worst affected areas in an emergency are and allow us get help where it's needed most."
Flood response
In particular, Sky Watch will support the Red Cross' specialist flood relief and rescue team. This team is the only one of its kind in the UK and is equipped with two flood rescue boats. Volunteers train alongside the coastguard. Sky Watch pilots have already been out taking part in flood rescue training exercises.
Ian explained: "When we're travelling through flood water in the boats, you have no idea what the terrain ahead is like, what hazards there might be or even if you have a clear route to where you need to go. Sky Watch pilots will provide vital aerial information and make it much safer for our volunteers when they're responding to flooding."
Peter Macintosh of Sky Watch's No 23 Highland Unit said: "Sky Watch was born out of a desire to stop tragedies that could have been avoided if only the incident had been seen in time. Our partnership with the Red Cross is an excellent way to achieve that objective."
Read about the summer 2007 UK floods
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