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Northland Westpac Rescue Helicopter crews have completed extensive training on new Leonardo AW169 helicopters, as Northern Rescue begins replacing its ageing aircraft.
The first AW169 entered operational service from Whangārei in September, when it was sent to a motor vehicle crash in Kaeo. The transition will continue as the existing Sikorsky S76 helicopters, which are approaching 20 years of service, are retired.
Fifteen Whangārei-based pilots and 16 critical care paramedics (CCPs) have undertaken training for the new aircraft.
Clinical operations manager and CCP Ross Aitken says the helicopters provide newer aeromedical technology and a better working environment for crews treating critically unwell patients.
“Our newer aircraft increase Northern Rescue’s ability to deliver standardised levels of clinical care across Northland, including to people living in more remote communities,” he says.
The larger rear cabin has a new stretcher system and allows clinicians 360-degree access to patients. It can also be reconfigured for winch operations or to transfer critically ill patients between hospitals with specialised hospital teams.
More than half of the region’s 1000-plus rescue helicopter flights each year are inter-hospital transfers, Northern Rescue says.
Crews have also practised day and night winching in Glenbervie Forest, east of Whangārei. The training included the RULS stretcher system, which allows patients to be winched directly on to the stretcher.
“It’s been a massive undertaking, involving hundreds, if not thousands, of work hours from our trainers and crews to get everyone up to speed and operating safely, while at the same time keeping our 24/7 service running,” O’Reilly says.
The AW169s have more powerful engines, updated avionics and improved weather and terrain awareness. O’Reilly says their autopilot includes functions such as “auto hover”. The service plans to move to a full fleet of red, black and yellow AW169s next year. Northern Rescue engineering teams in Whangārei and Auckland have prepared the new aircraft while continuing to maintain the S76 fleet for operational duties.
