Search For Missing Glider

Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand (RCCNZ) is coordinating the search for a glider missing from Omarama.

The glider was self-launched using a small motor at 1pm yesterday and was reported missing by Omarama Gliding at 8.20pm.

A search was started last night by an aircraft using what light was still available. This morning six aircraft are searching the area between Mt Cook and Roxburgh, approximately a 120km radius circle centred on Omarama.

Gliding New Zealand has provided observers for the search aircraft and an advisor at the RCCNZ. It is believed more likely the glider was flown towards the West as an easterly wind was blowing.

Two helicopters are on stand-by, one with an ICU paramedic and the other with an alpine cliff rescue team. They will be dispatched when the glider is found.

The glider pilot had not left a flight plan nor asked for flight following. He has a radio on board and the last contact was at 2.06pm, when the glider was flying at the north end of the Benmore Range. He is carrying a personal locator beacon, which is manually operated and has not activated. The glider was not fitted with an emergency location transmitter that would activate automatically.

ENDS

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