helicopter, a senior Regiment officer said yesterday.

And Regiment Adjutant Captain Eddie Lamb said his land-based infantry were also keen to get their water wings by boosting their boat troop and teaming up with the Bermuda Marine Police.

Capt. Lamb added: "We are at the embryonic stage in terms of a helicopter -- but should that come to fruition, we have the network in place where we could send potential pilots abroad for training with the British Army or the Jamaican Defence Force.

"Our first option would be to check with the British through our staff officer, then the Americans, with whom we have a close relationship, and with Jamaica.'' He said an airborne unit would probably mean full-time ground crew and pilots.

But Capt. Lamb added: "It would all depend on finance -- if it was a capability they wanted us to introduce, we could manage.'' "We would absolutely be able to assume that responsibility.

He added: "If we did have a responsibility of that magnitude, it would be important to maintain it properly -- which I think would require full-time staff.'' Capt. Lamb said that an air wing and an expanded Marine-style sea-going role for the Regiment would increase the service's attractiveness in the eyes of recruits.

He added: "It would certainly extend the horizons of our training and I'm sure the individual soldiers would find it very attractive.'' Capt. Lamb said: "Maybe it would be deemed the Police should have a helicopter -- but whoever had it, we would need the appropriate funding, plus the added expense of operating and maintaining it.'' The Regiment has already started training with the Bermuda Marine Police, with the long-term aim of working alongside them in patrolling Bermuda's waters and in drug-busting operations.

But Capt. Lamb stressed that the Regiment's primary role would be as back-up to the Police in civil disturbances or natural disasters.

He was speaking after Labour and Home Affairs Minister Quinton Edness revealed last Friday that Bermuda would have to acquire bigger, armed vessels and a helicopter suitable for search-and-rescue and drug interdiction.

Mr. Edness added that he saw people being drawn from both the Police and Regiment to train as pilots.

And he announced an expert from the British Ministry of Defence was to visit the Island to help draw up a game-plan to beef up Bermudian air-sea power.

Regiment ready to run helicopter And Shadow Labour and Home Affairs Minister Alex Scott said he hoped the UK would provide the hardware and trained personnel while Bermudian crews were brought up to speed on the new equipment.

UK Foreign Secretary Robin Cook last month announced that Britain was to donate a large patrol craft to be used for training in the eastern Caribbean.

The Police did not yesterday respond to queries on their views of a potential airborne role and a bigger sea-going capability for its officers.

Deputy Governor Peter Willis said he was unable to comment on what the UK Government may consider.