Volunteers from Wakatipu Land Search and Rescue have successfully tested a recco detector device from a helicopter via the lower Rocky supports of the remarkable reminaries at the beginning of this week and offer new hope that have to be saved in the hinterland.
According to volunteer Johnny Franklin, the Recco system is used more strongly at Europe and North America. The reflectors are embedded outdoors in clothing and equipment.
“People can buy equipment that Recco has embedded on site. It is passive and does not need a battery, loading or maintenance,” says Franklin. “It is possible to buy a device separately and attach it to clothes, jackets or devices such as packs.
“We have one of these detector devices on the South Island and one on the North Island,” says Franklin. “You are very helpful when a person is missing in bush or snow or other difficult terrain, and the missing person does not have to have a reflector to find, even though it definitely helps,” he says.
It can also absorb a return sign of electronic devices, regardless of your condition.
“It is able to recognize other random electronics such as mobile phones, personal locator Beacons, head burner, even if they are not activated, switched off or flat.”
According to Franklin, the Wakatipu seekers hope that this will be useful in this region to find the electronics.
“Some electronics are more demonstrable than others, but less effective than a recco reflector,” he says. “We may be able to see a reflection from a flashlight or a mobile phone, but it is less likely.”
Recco detectors have been around for about 40 years that are used historically when searching for the avalanche. “The helicopter detector makes it useful for the search for wide area and still has a valuable place in the avalanche reaction, but can also be used outside of a snow environment.
“The ability of these devices improves in New Zealand. Historically, a handheld recipient was used here when searching for avalanche, but it is not so applicable to larger search queries,” says Franklin. “The manufacturers realized this and recently made the two helicopter recco recognition systems available for the use of New Zealand.
“We hope that people are now looking for clothing that contains these devices,” he says. “If you have a Recco recipient, it makes it easier for us to answer.”
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