AA rocketmen to fly to the rescue of stranded motorists

Next time you break down on the motorway don't scan the road for the AA van to arrive. Look up in the sky. The breakdown rescue service is launching a rapid response patrol that will see 'AA Rocketmen' in lightweight jet-packs flitting over traffic jams to reach stranded motorists.

The AA has chosen today, the first day of the annual Easter getaway, to test the service. It follows a series of secret trials at Dunsfold Aerodrome near Guildford. Film of the early trials shows patrolmen taking off and landing with pin-point accuracy.



Today's test will be carried out on the M25 between Surrey and Heathrow Airport between dawn and noon. The Transport Department and the Civil Aviation Authority will then rule on whether the scheme can be extended across Britain later this year. The AA, or Automobile Association, was founded to help motorists in distress.

But until now, its solutions have been very much on the ground - with a fleet of vans, motorcycles and electric scooters. This is the first time the AA has tried to go over the traffic rather than through it to reach stranded drivers.

With news video. There's more information at the AA website.