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Search and Rescue Squadrons (Nos. 81 to 86)

A total of 6 Squadrons (Nos. 81 to 86) provide local search and rescue cover at the air bases at Peshawar, Sargodha, Rafiqui-Shorkot, Masroor, Samungli-Quetta and Mianwali. In each case, two Alouette IIIs are operated. The primary mission is to recover downed crewmembers and other isolated personnel.

SAR operations return key personnel to friendly control, allowing them to fight again. Secondly, SAR operations often influence the course of national and international politics by denying adversaries the opportunity to exploit the intelligence and propaganda value of captured personnel. Lastly, the presence of a robust and viable SAR force increases morale, with a resultant increase in operational performance.

Alouette III helicopter was developed from the Alouette II, with larger cabin, greater power, improved equipment and higher performance. The prototype flew for the first time on 28 February 1959, and a total of 1,455 Alouette IIIs had been delivered for civil and military operation in 74 countries by 1 May 1985 which was the final year of production by Aerospatiale.

Normal accommodation for pilot and six persons, with three seats in front and a four-person folding seat at rear of cabin. Two baggage holds in centre-section, on each side of the welded structure and enclosed by the centre-section fairings. Provision for carrying two stretchers athwartships at rear of cabin, and two other persons, in addition to pilot. All passenger seats removable to enable aircraft to be used for freight-carrying. Provision for external sling for loads of up to 750 kg (1,650 lb). One forward-opening door on each side, immediately in front of two rearward-sliding doors. Dual controls and cabin heating optional.

Three-blade main and anti-torque rotors. All-metal main rotor blades, of constant chord, on articulated hinges, with hydraulic drag-hinge dampers. Rotor brake standard. Welded-steel tube centre-section, carrying the cabin at the front and a semi-monocoque tailboom. The tail unit is a cantilever all-metal fixed tailplane, with twin endplate fins, mounted on tailboom. Main rotor driven through planetary gearbox, with freewheel for autorotation. Take-off drive for tail rotor at lower end of main gearbox, from where a torque shaft runs to a small gearbox which supports the tail rotor and houses the pitch-change mechanism. Cyclic and collective pitch controls are powered.