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An invitation from the Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust (ARHT) to take supporters for a quick, scenic flight in their newest chopper, an AgustaWestland AW169, has paid off handsomely.
The ARHT invited eight members of the Rodney Health Charitable Trust for the scenic flights and a briefing on ARHT operations at its base in Ardmore on November 29.
After selling two of its health business ventures to Geneva Healthcare in 2014, the Rodney Health Charitable Trust continues to help improve the wellbeing of Rodney residents by awarding grants to pay for health treatments not funded by the public purse.
In addition, over the last 20 years the trust has pumped hundreds of thousands of dollars into the ARHT.
During the briefing, charitable trust members learned the ARHT needed a new $300,000 building to accommodate a flight simulator to train helicopter pilots. Auckland Council has stumped up with half the money, but that still left the ARHT needing to find $150,000.
Rodney Health Charitable Trust spokesperson Alan Boniface says trust members quickly agreed to donate the remaining $150,000.
While at Ardmore, Alan was impressed with how busy the helicopters were and it was touch-and-go whether charitable trust members would manage to get their promised flights.
Eventually they did so and Alan, now in his eighties, was able to enjoy the first helicopter flight in his life.
