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 have ROA Mining as our naming rights sponsor; this support underpins the service on the West Coast.ย 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 ROA Mining Rescue Helicopter is the only option and can be the difference between life and death.
Completing over 300 missions last year, the mission numbers are building steadily. The service also gets involved with transporting patients between hospitals and through civil defense, with deployment and rescues during crisis times, most recently with the Westport (and environs) flooding.
Left to right โ 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. Longer-term, the aim is to replace the existing BK-117 with a more modern aircraft with more advanced avionics. This will facilitate Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) which allows us to fly in lower cloud conditions, enabling the ROA Mining Rescue Helicopter to respond in more compromised weather conditions โ a real game changer for the West Coast. We are also looking at equipment upgrades and supplementary 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
In line with requirements of the new NASO contract, the West Coast community is now served by a twin engine BK117-B2 rescue helicopter.
| 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.
Living and working rurally, Mitch has heard his fair share of rescue helicopter stories. He also has one of his own.
Working in a factory, an accident saw Mitch trapped with a broken back.
"๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐ต๐๐ฝ๐ผ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ๐บ๐ถ๐ฐ ๐ฏ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐บ๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ ๐ด๐ผ๐ ๐๐ผ ๐บ๐ฒ. ๐๐๐ฐ๐ธ๐ถ๐น๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ช๐ฒ๐๐๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ฐ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐น๐ถ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด.
"๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ฐ๐๐ฒ ๐ต๐ฒ๐น๐ถ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ถ๐ ๐ฎ ๐๐ถ๐๐ฎ๐น ๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ธ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฟ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐น ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐บ๐๐ป๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐; ๐ถ๐ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐น๐น๐ ๐ฑ๐ผ๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐น๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐."
Mitch is chair of @pendarvesyoungfarmers1 and is proud that the funds from their upcoming Speed Shear event are going to support the rescue helicopter service.
Community support like this is what keeps the rescue helicopter service in the air. Thank you!
You can read Mitch`s story here: https://www.airrescue.co.nz/stories/trapped-with-a-broken-back-this-young-farmers-rescue-story/
Our latest Airwaves update is about to hit inboxes. Make sure it hits yours!
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It`s your monthly dose of inspiration as you see the difference your support and the rescue helicopter service make every day.
Sign up here: https://www.airrescue.co.nz/newsletter/
Last year`s Westpac Rescue Helicopter golf tournament at Russley Golf Club was a huge success. So much so that we`re doing it all again, and there is still a car up for grabs for a hole in one*!
We`d love to see you there, so get your work group organised and sign up a team.
@milestoyota @gchaviation
www.airrescue.co.nz/golf
*t&c`s apply
Keely had a lifesaving ride on a rescue helicopter. Now she`s urging her community to give the rescue helicopters their support.
Thank you to Keely and the team at @pendarvesyoungfarmers for supporting the Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue Trust with your Speed Shear event.
If you`re in or near Rakaia on 15 November, head along! Community events like this go a huge way to keeping the lifesaving rescue helicopter service in the air.
@aorangiregion.nzyf @nzyoungfarmers
