19 January 2007

New era begins for Auckland Rescue Helicopter services

The Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust (ARHT) entered a new era today with the official launch of its new rescue helicopter – the first it has owned outright on behalf of the public of greater Auckland region.

The BK-117B2 has been substantially upgraded to be the most technologically advanced rescue helicopter in the country.

ARHT Chair Murray Bolton said the trust had come to become the country’s only fully self-contained, fully staffed 24/7-rescue helicopter service.

“Not only do we now own our own helicopter, late last year we became a Civil Aviation approved aircraft operator. We are the only rescue helicopter trust that employs its own pilots, paramedics and crewmembers.”

Mr Bolton said the trust had come through four difficult years.

“The support from our sponsors, like our long term naming rights sponsor Westpac, and the community never seemed to waver during that period. We really needed that support as we still only recover 15-percent of our costs from Government entities. We rely on that support for the other 85-percent,” he said.

Mr Bolton said ARHT now had a strong management team and a revamped board.

“It is a strong, viable and well-run organisation that provides a world class aero medical and rescue helicopter service,” he said.

A recent unprompted independent survey undertaken for the Auckland City Council (ACC) which asked what organisations were most important to the community rated ARHT number one.

“That gives me some comfort that we are doing the right thing. Interestingly however, we were also the only one of the 12 organisations listed that receives NO financial support from any ratepayers in the region,” Mr Bolton said.

ENDS

© Scoop Media