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| Search crews to go to Afghanistan | Search crews to go to Afghanistan |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| One in five of Britain's RAF helicopter rescue crews is to be sent into military service in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence has said. | One in five of Britain's RAF helicopter rescue crews is to be sent into military service in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence has said. |
| Each of Britain's six RAF search and rescue stations will see the number of four-strong crews available for rescue missions cut from five to four. | Each of Britain's six RAF search and rescue stations will see the number of four-strong crews available for rescue missions cut from five to four. |
| They will pilot transport helicopters serving British troops. | They will pilot transport helicopters serving British troops. |
| The MoD said the move, in 2011/2012, would not limit search and rescue efforts. | The MoD said the move, in 2011/2012, would not limit search and rescue efforts. |
| 'World's best' | 'World's best' |
| Helicopters are a preferred mode of transporting troops in Afghanistan, as they avoid the risk of roadside bombs. | Helicopters are a preferred mode of transporting troops in Afghanistan, as they avoid the risk of roadside bombs. |
| The crews will be sent to Helmand province in the south of the country to extend the number of hours military helicopters are able to stay in the air. | The crews will be sent to Helmand province in the south of the country to extend the number of hours military helicopters are able to stay in the air. |
| An MoD spokesman said: "The RAF search and rescue teams are the most dedicated and professional in the world. | An MoD spokesman said: "The RAF search and rescue teams are the most dedicated and professional in the world. |
| We have to focus our resources on the front line MoD spokesman | We have to focus our resources on the front line MoD spokesman |
| "Changes have been made to crew structures at these bases in order to provide additional support to our top priority, operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. | |
| "This will not affect normal search and rescue capability, and our support to civil authorities during recent flooding shows our ability to respond flexibly to extraordinary requirements." | "This will not affect normal search and rescue capability, and our support to civil authorities during recent flooding shows our ability to respond flexibly to extraordinary requirements." |
| He added: "Operations are always our priority. We have to focus our resources on the front line." | He added: "Operations are always our priority. We have to focus our resources on the front line." |
| The crews that will be leaving for Afghanistan currently work alongside four civilian coastguard and two Royal Navy teams at search and rescue centres based in England, Scotland and Wales. | The crews that will be leaving for Afghanistan currently work alongside four civilian coastguard and two Royal Navy teams at search and rescue centres based in England, Scotland and Wales. |
| RAF RESCUE CENTRES RAF Boulmer, NorthumberlandDefence School of Transport, Leconfield, YorkshireRAF Lossiemouth, MorayRoyal Marine base Chivenor, DevonRAF Valley, AngleseyWattisham Airfield, Suffolk | |
| Each of the six centres operate two helicopters, with five four-person crews flying them on rotation. | Each of the six centres operate two helicopters, with five four-person crews flying them on rotation. |
| There is currently a response time of 15 minutes, and the helicopters ensure nowhere in the UK is more than an hour's flight away, or an hour and a half at night. | There is currently a response time of 15 minutes, and the helicopters ensure nowhere in the UK is more than an hour's flight away, or an hour and a half at night. |
| On Thursday Defence Secretary Des Browne met military and civil service chiefs to discuss ways of increasing helicopter capacity. | On Thursday Defence Secretary Des Browne met military and civil service chiefs to discuss ways of increasing helicopter capacity. |
| One option under consideration is to rent helicopters from other countries or commercial companies to bridge any shortfalls in Iraq and Afghanistan. | One option under consideration is to rent helicopters from other countries or commercial companies to bridge any shortfalls in Iraq and Afghanistan. |