New Helicopters About to Land

Filed in Recent News by May 18, 2016

BIGGER and quicker rescue helicopters are about to land in Australia as part of the new Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service aircraft fleet.

Faster, bigger choppers are on their way.

Faster, bigger choppers are on their way.

The first of four Agusta Westland AW 139 aircraft was formally accepted by the Service in Italy and will come into service in the first quarter of next year.

Richard Jones, general manager of the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service said the new aircraft may allow them to reduce Upper Hunter trips by 10 to 20 minutes meaning dramatically improved patient care.

“They are a lot faster and a lot safer, we’ve got all the technology available to them so with the varying weather that we get in the Upper Hunter it’s a good result and the Upper Hunter is also serviced quite often from the Tamworth base so we can get over the Range when the weather is a lot more problematic so it’s a great win for all of our communities, especially the Upper Hunter,” Mr Jones said.

“We can load more current equipment, because we can carry more weight in the machines, every ounce means less fuel, so we try and keep what we carry to a minimum, so this will mean we can carry more equipment,” he said.

“The machines we use now are 4 tonnes and these new ones are bout 7 tonnes, so nearly double the capacity, more endurance and more capability.

Mr Jones said when he officially took receipt of the new machines in Italy recently, he felt very aware of the local communities at home who had made the new machines a reality for the Service.

“I was very conscious during the handover that it was made possible by the wonderful support the people of the regions provide to the Service to help ensure the safety of our communities,” Mr Jones said.

“Once again I pass on our appreciation to our supporters, our volunteers and all members of the community who help to make it possible,” he said.

“It is an enormous result,” said Richard Jones.

 

 

 

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