rescue aircraft after the withdrawal of the US Base, according to Naval Air Station commander Capt. Tim Bryan.

Capt. Bryan was speaking after a dramatic air-sea rescue by a US Coast Guard helicopter over the weekend in which three sailors were plucked from raging seas.

The helicopter did not have enough fuel to return to its base in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, and landed in Bermuda at the air station.

Base staff were able to help the exhausted helicopter crew and prepare an easy passage for the sailors to hospital.

But with the Base set to close in September, 1995, Capt. Bryan believes any civilian-run airport would have to take into account facilities for similar rescues in the future.

"These are questions that the Government of Bermuda has to wrestle with,'' he said. "It must look at the Airport and its functions.

"It is going to be a matter between the US Coast Guard and Bermuda if a vessel gets into trouble and people need to be landed here.

"As long as there is a runway free there should be no problem. The issue, however, is what happens if Bermuda operates the Airport for reduced hours? They might not be able to land a helicopter like this if it is closed.'' The Jayhawk helicopter used over the weekend had been fitted with additional tanks to hold extra fuel for the trip to Bermuda. And it still would not have made the trip without a tailwind.

In fact, its return has been delayed until weather conditions improve or a passing US Navy ship can be utilised as a carrier.

Local helicopters could not have made the rescue because of the distances involved.

Capt. Bryan said he did not know whether there would be any limited US Navy presence on the Island in case of such emergencies after 1995. He admitted that all he knew about the Base closure was information released by Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan.

But he stressed that the cost of the weekend's air-sea rescue, running into thousands of dollars, would be borne by the US Coast Guard and not the US Naval Air Station.

"We would operate the airfield as usual. They would pay for the fuel used by the helicopter.''