Craft Freemasonry
Province of Jersey
The Province of Jersey is the Southernmost Province in the British Isles.
Channel Islands Air Search
CIAS is a voluntary organisation formed in 1980 for the primary purpose of assisting in the saving of lives at sea. It is a rapid response service, with comprehensive Search and limited Rescue capability. The Service's aircraft will operate under the direction of any of the recognised SAR authorities, and will work in close conjunction with lifeboats, helicopters or other vessels or aircraft. It provides a rapid response search capability in the 4,000 square miles of water surrounding the British Channel Islands and the adjacent French coast and is involved in 30 to 40 call outs each year. The aircraft has the capability to act as on-scene commander, if so tasked, communicating as required by aeronautical and marine VHF radio. Many of the crew are commercial pilots.
CIAS is a voluntary organisation formed in 1980 for the primary purpose of assisting in the saving of lives at sea. It is a rapid response service, with comprehensive Search and limited Rescue capability. The Service's aircraft will operate under the direction of any of the recognised SAR authorities, and will work in close conjunction with lifeboats, helicopters or other vessels or aircraft. It provides a rapid response search capability in the 4,000 square miles of water surrounding the British Channel Islands and the adjacent French coast and is involved in 30 to 40 call outs each year. The aircraft has the capability to act as on-scene commander, if so tasked, communicating as required by aeronautical and marine VHF radio. Many of the crew are commercial pilots.
The Freemasons' Grand Charity helps to keep air ambulances flying
In 2008, the Grand Charity made a grant of £180,000 towards the potentially life-saving services provided by air ambulances throughout the UK. Air ambulance charities across England and Wales collectively fly around 17,500 missions every year at a cost of £0.5 million per week. The money to fund this work is met almost entirely by donations from the public.
The Channel Islands do not operate an air ambulance service. However the Grand Charity have made a separate grant
of £6,000 towards the Channel Islands Air Search who operate the aircraft "Lions' Pride" throughout the
Channel Islands waters.
18th November 2010 - The Provincial Grand Master - RW Bro Kenneth Michael Rondel is greeting Derek Short,
(one of the Jersey based Trustees, and Chairman of the Trustees). Also present - Colin Ferbrache, a Guernsey based
Trustee and Air Search's Chief Executive and VW.Bro Anthony Vincent Hefford, Deputy Provincial Grand Master.