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Equipment
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Survival Suit
The orange survival suit to the left is used by the Crewmen, Paramedics and Pilots during offshore rescues, the Survival Suit prevents the debilitating effects of hypothermia, which is caused by cold sea temperatures
Wetsuit
The Wetsuit is a semi-dry suit, purpose designed in co-operation with Aquanaut New Zealand to outfit our rescue swimmers for off-shore rescue missions. Each suit was made from measurements taken from each Crew member. It is a 3.5mm, Titanium lined interior and exterior semi-dry suit with a new G-Lock zipper system which water cannot penetrate. It has:
- Super-stretch, extra long armpit gussets for arm rotation
- Extra long calf zippers for ease of donning
- Reinforced knee protectors
- Reinforced T-Bar at back
- Interior zipper flaps have been enlarged to seal the suit and collar
- Titanium undervests and P2 Poly-lyrca undersuit for warmth
- High visibility upper body with reflector panels
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Winch Rescue Strop
Made of heavy-duty neoprene and canvas, the Winch Strop is used to winch a single person from either land or sea during a rescue. The Crew have modified this strop to include a buoyancy application as well as making it larger so that it will fit around the patient's lifejacket. |
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Crew Helmet
Gentex dual visor helmet includes lip-light for night operations and microphone for internal and external communications. |
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Mustang Life Jacket
This Mustang (military spec) life jacket is highly specialised, and is standard equipment that is worn by the Crew on all missions.
It carries a wide range of safety, rescue and survival equipment, such as:
- ACR strobe light
- Multi-tool
- Mini flares
- Personal halogen torch
- Survival water sachets
- Personal emergency beacon
- Sirius survival blankets
- Medical kit
- Whistle
- Survival ration
- Spare batteries (for torches, helmet lights etc)
- Heliograph
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S.E.A (Spare Emergency Air)
Standard equipment for all off-shore operations. This equipment is part of the Crew’s lifejacket configuration which provides emergency air in the event of ditching. |
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Winch Stretcher
The Winch Stretcher is collapsible and has a tubular aluminum frame. It is made and stitched with industrial canvas, making it very light and strong. It can be stored conveniently for use in a helicopter. |
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Ambulance Stretcher
This is a standard ambulance stretcher used by the Helicopter so that we can swap it with any ambulance or hospital that operates in this area.
Having this stretcher reduces patent handling as we are able to hand over the patient and stretcher together at the receiving hospital and then take one of their spares.
The Trust has modified special brackets inside the Helicopter to accommodate the stretcher. |
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Thomas Pack
Carries all of the Paramedics medical equipment, as well as drugs. The Thomas Pack is made out of heavy-duty canvas with a series of pockets inside and out for ease of access and recognition of equipment. The Thomas Pack can be converted into a back pack if the Paramedic needs to travel by foot through the bush to reach the patient. |
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Corpuls3
The Corpuls3 is a modular defibrillator and vital life signs monitor. It consists of separate modules that communicate wirelessly and can transmit reports to waiting medical ground staff. A major benefit of the equipment is that it can monitor blood pressure automatically, which is quite difficult in a helicopter. |
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Night Sun
Used for night searches or night approaches for landing the aircraft. The Night Sun is remotely controlled by the Crewman from within the Helicopter and has strength of 30 million candlepower. The Night Sun is attached under the nose of the Helicopter. |
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Backup Equipment
The Trust keeps a complete duplicate of the equipment routinely used in the Helicopter on standby, in case a second mission occurs while the main Helicopter is flying. |
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Salvage Pump
The Salvage Pump is a portable, lightweight, high volume pump used to pump water from sinking vessels that may have a chance to be saved. Normal procedure in getting the pump to the vessel is by winching it onboard. |
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Internal Fuel Tank
The Internal Fuel Tank is used for off-shore missions. It is fitted inside the Helicopter and connected to the main fuel tanks by coupling hoses. The fuel from the Internal Fuel Tank is pumped into the main tank first during the flight and then once empty the Helicopter main tanks take over. It gives an extra 40 minutes flying time. |
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External Long Range Fuel Tanks
Fitted to the skids of the Helicopter. It extends the Helicopter's flight time on offshore missions to 150 nautical miles, with 40 minutes on task, then return. |
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Winch
Breeze Eastern 600lb hoist, fitted on an electrically operated boom arm. The winch has 165 feet of cable, which can be extended at a rate of 177 feet down per minute. The winch is operated by the Crewmen using a hand control called a pendant. |
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Direction Finding Equipment
Used to home in on emergency radio beacons - frequencies 121.5 MHZ and 243 MHZ. The Direction Finder has been modified to fit when required, inside and outside the Helicopter. It is typically used to locate missing persons or boats and planes in distress. |
Training
The Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust provides ongoing, highly specialised training programmes to ensure the Crew are able to any emergency situation. These programmes include:
Winch Training
This programme is split into four different categories - land, boat, wet and night. The demands and risk factors can vary greatly between the categories, for example:
- Boat winches can be performed up to 150 nautical miles off shore and in very rough sea conditions
- Depth perception changes at night and power lines and fences are very difficult to see
- The rescue helicopter may have to fly into small areas or very close to cliff faces
Winch training is conducted at least once every three months and includes all of our Paramedics, Pilots, Doctors and Crewmen
Nightsun Training
The Nightsun is a 30 million candlepower search light. Special training is required as factors such as depth perception can change dramatically at night. Nightsun training is conducted at least once every 6 months and includes the Paramedic and Crewman.
H.U.E.T. (Helicopter Underwater Escape Training)
The Trust designed and built the H.U.E.T, which is a helicopter shell mounted on pontoons, to train the Crew in what to do if the helicopter ditches in the water. The H.U.E.T. is designed to turn upside down and the Crew practice exiting the helicopter in a calm and safe manner, and inflating their life jackets. The Pilots, Paramedics, Doctors and Crewman are all involved with this training which is held yearly.
Continuous training for role changing
The Westpac Rescue Helicopter carries operational, medical, aviation and rescue equipment based on the needs of the mission. The Crew practice attaching:
- Auxiliary long range fuel tanks, both internal and external (for long range off shore missions)
- Cargo hook
- Fire bucket
Directional Finding Training
Each year the Westpac Rescue Helicopter responds to a number of emergency beacons. These can be from planes, boats or people lost in the bush. The Crew train with our directional funding equipment to locate these emergency beacons
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