Full Implementation of the National Integrated Dispatch System for Firefighting Helicopters
Addressing Geographic Blind Spots... Facilitating Rapid Deployment
Kim Seungryong: "Building a Robust National Safety Network"
Firefighting helicopter stock photo. Provided by Gangwon Provincial Fire Headquarters Yonhap News Agency
The "National Integrated Dispatch System for Firefighting Helicopters," which deploys the nearest and most suitable helicopter to the site of an incident regardless of jurisdiction, will be fully implemented nationwide starting this month.
The National Fire Agency had previously conducted a pilot program in April 2023, focusing on the southern regions such as Chungcheong, Yeongnam, and Honam. The pilot achieved a reduction of 13.2 minutes in average dispatch time and 40 kilometers in flight distance per mission. In January this year, Gyeonggi and Gangwon were incorporated into the integrated network, and with the inclusion of Seoul and Incheon in March, a unified national dispatch and control system has now been completed.
The effectiveness of helicopter dispatches that transcend jurisdictional boundaries was demonstrated during a mountain rescue operation over the Lunar New Year holiday. On February 15, a man in his 60s suffered an ankle fracture after falling while descending a mountain in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province. Through proactive coordination and control by the National Fire Agency's 119 Aviation Operations Control Center, the Seoul firefighting helicopter, which was closer to the accident site, was dispatched instead of the Gyeonggi helicopter with jurisdiction. The patient was transported safely and swiftly. This dispatch reduced the flight time by approximately 10 minutes and the flight distance by more than 30 kilometers, proving the real-world benefits of cross-regional cooperation.
As demonstrated in the Namyangju case, with the full implementation in the Seoul metropolitan area in March, the system will address geographical blind spots in helicopter deployment across each city and province, making rapid deployment even easier.
For example, in Gyeonggi Province, which covers a large area, the firefighting helicopter is based in Yongin. When an incident occurs in Daebudo, a coastal area of Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, the Incheon firefighting helicopter, which is geographically closer, can be dispatched proactively for faster response.
Kim Seungryong, Acting Commissioner of the National Fire Agency, stated, "With the integration of Seoul and Incheon into the unified dispatch system, we can now provide the fastest and most effective aerial rescue anywhere in the country. We will continue to build a robust national safety network by complementing any gaps in firefighting helicopter coverage and maximizing our geographical advantages."
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