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 H145.
| MAKE/MODEL | Airbus H145 |
| ENGINE | 2x turbomeca arriel 2E turboshaft |
| SHAFT HORSEPOWER | 1072 HP each engine (one engine inoperative) |
| CREW | 1 pilot, 1 critical care paramedic, 1 paramedic / winch operator |
| MAX SPEED | 278kph |
| CRUISE SPEED | 238kph |
| RANGE | 651 kilometres |
| SERVICE | 1 HELICOPTER AND CREW ON CALL 24/7 |
| MISSIONS | 300+ AVERAGE PER YEAR JUST ON THE WEST COAST |
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.
We are honoured to launch the Jerry Charters Scholarship for Aeromedical Advancement.
This scholarship will provide rescue helicopter crews across Canterbury and the West Coast with specialist training that otherwise would not be possible.
And it`s all thanks to the generosity of this man - Jerry Charters. Jerry left a gift in his will to the Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue Trust which has provided the foundation funding for the scholarship.
Critical Care Paramedic Tatsu Kuwasaki says thanks to the Trust’s support, the crews enjoy some of the most advanced equipment, but specialist training is just as vital when it comes to delivering improved patient outcomes.
“𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗰𝘂𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗼𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘅 𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀. 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗮𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗯𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 – 𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝗮 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲,” 𝗧𝗮𝘁𝘀𝘂 𝘀𝗮𝘆𝘀.
Thank you for trusting us with your legacy Jerry - we hope you would be proud of how we are honouring it. We know it certainly will be life-saving.
For more information about the Jerry Charters Scholarship head here: https://www.airrescue.co.nz/stories/crew-scholarship-launched-in-memory-of-lyttelton-stalwart/
Behind every rescue is a crew that never stops training.
We`re so grateful to Waimakariri Aquatic Facilities for supporting our critical care paramedics with access to their world-class facilities. Their generosity helps keep our crews at the top of their game, ready to respond when our community needs them most.
Thank you, Waimakariri Aquatic Facilities, for investing in the people who show up when it matters. Your support makes a real difference.
@WaimakaririAquaticFacilities
Do you have what it takes?
This video is from our February Mission of the Month, a winch rescue from dense bush in the Hawdon Valley. What an exceptional crew of pilot Ed, Critical Care Paramedic Steve, and Crew Paramedic/Winch Operator Shane.
A fabulous morning was spent celebrating the generosity of the Akaroa and Bays Lions Club.
The Club ran a recent four-wheel drive event and donated the proceeds to the rescue helicopter service. Our most heartfelt thanks for your generosity and for taking the time to visit the service and meeting crew members Adrian, Shane and Kent.
It turns out for two of our guests this wasn`t the first time seeing a Westpac Rescue Helicopter. We`re glad this time you weren`t the patient!
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