The crew on the West Coast are often dealing with the most challenging of conditions and an average mission length is longer due to the vast distances. We are blessed to now have Westpac NZ as our associate sponsor; this new level of support underpins the service on the West Coast. The Critical Care Paramedics on the coast are the highest qualified medical resource available for the community. In areas like the West Coast, when there is an emergency, the Westpac Rescue Helicopter is the only option and can be the difference between life and death.
We extend a sincere thank you to ROA Mining for their significant support of the service over 13 years. Their generous commitment ensured that the West Coast community had access to this vital emergency response capability. ROA Mining will continue to support their community through their sponsorship of the New Zealand Flying Doctor Service. This sister service to the rescue helicopters is a regular visitor to the West Coast transporting patients between hospitals to the higher acuity care they need.
Left to right – Hernan, Peet, Joshua, Tom, Dazza
As well as fundraising to support missions on the West Coast we are working on a number of exciting projects to improve patient care and save more lives. Very soon, the existing BK-117 will be replaced with a state-of-the-art H145 helicopter that will have more advanced avionics. This will facilitate Instrument Flight Rules (IFR), allowing the crew to fly in lower cloud conditions, enabling the rescue helicopter to respond in more compromised weather conditions – a real game changer for the West Coast. This will be accompanied by equipment upgrades and advanced training, so the crew are fully prepared for all missions.
Mission support
Can you contribute to the cost of a mission or fund a lifesaving mission?
You can support a complete mission
1 mission- $5,000
2 missions – $10,000
4 missions – $20,000.
Or give a monthly gift – $20, $3o, $50, or your choice
Special Projects Development Fund
The West Coast community is currently served by a twin engine BK117-B2 rescue helicopter, but the H145 is on its way soon.
| MAKE/MODEL | BK-117 – B2 |
| ENGINE | Twin Allied Signal, LTS101-850B2 |
| SHAFT HORSEPOWER | 850 HP each engine |
| CREW | 1 pilot, 2 paramedics |
| MAX SPEED | 150 knots / 280kph |
| CRUISE SPEED | 120 knots / 222kph |
| RANGE | 540 kilometres |
| SERVICE | 1 HELICOPTER AND CREW ON CALL 24/7 |
| MISSIONS | 300+ AVERAGE PER YEAR |
Our community and corporate sponsors are greatly valued. Without their support our service would not be able to operate. The Canterbury West Coast Rescue Helicopter Trust gratefully acknowledges the following companies whose generous support contributes to the efficient operation of a viable FREE Rescue Helicopter Service in our region.
The crew love it when patients come to visit - especially when they bring morning tea and the cuteness of four-year-old Cooper!
Cooper knows that when he was a baby, his mum got sick and the Westpac Rescue Helicopter rescued her. But that wasn`t the first time mum Emma was rescued.
As well as being a patient (twice), Emma has worked with the rescue helicopter service through her role as a volunteer firefighter for the Hinds Volunteer Fire Brigade.
“𝗪𝗲’𝘃𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝘁 𝘂𝗽 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘇𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁. 𝗜’𝘃𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗶𝗹𝗼𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘄 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗰𝘂𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗮 𝗻𝗼𝗻-𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄.
“𝗦𝗲𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗰𝘂𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗼𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝘄𝗲-𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴.”
Read Emma`s story and hear more about her visit to the GCH Aviation Air Rescue Base here: https://www.airrescue.co.nz/stories/a-visit-to-the-rescue-service-that-saved-mum-twice/
Or see the Patient Stories link in our Linktree.
Helicopters 2 and 3 have landed!
Fresh from @rega_offiziell in Switzerland, they`re now being assembled by the @gchaviation Engineers.
Some of the team recently travelled to Rega`s facilities to learn everything about the aircraft and medical setups.
Huge thanks to the Rega team for sharing their expertise and supporting us every step of the way.
Partnerships like these make it all possible!
Last week we had the immense pleasure of welcoming our newest helicopter, IGA, to the fleet. Over 180 people joined us for the event to celebrate this amazing achievement. Thank you all for your support.
Read more about the event https://www.airrescue.co.nz/stories/our-new-rescue-helicopter-takes-to-the-skies/
@westpacnz @burlingtonvillage @gchaviation
We all have a reason for giving. For Chris, it`s to give back to the service that rescued him.
You never know when you will need the skill and speed of the rescue helicopter.
This Christmas, help us raise $100,000 for specialist crew training for our new fleet of H145 helicopters. Help us save more lives, more often.
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