NEWS RELEASE 13 August 2019
Two new air ambulance helicopters launched for South Island service
Two new air ambulance helicopters are being launched for South Island service today, the first time these highly-specified helicopters have been used in New Zealand for emergency medicine purposes.
New Zealand’s Health Minister Hon Dr David Clark unveiled the new Airbus H145 twin-engine helicopters in Christchurch this afternoon. The state-of-the-art aircraft, worth NZD 15 million each, were delivered from Airbus in Germany and will start service tomorrow (14 August) with one based in Christchurch and the other in Dunedin.
The new South Island air ambulance services come after Dr Clark last year announced an agreement with Helicopter Emergency Medical Services New Zealand Limited (HEMS) to provide air ambulance services across the whole of the South Island. HEMS is a joint venture between two well-established existing providers, GCH Aviation with a new facility at Christchurch Airport, and Helicopters Otago based in Dunedin.
HEMS Chief Executive, Ken Franklin says the helicopters set a new benchmark for New Zealand’s air ambulance services. “We have highly skilled pilots and specially trained clinical crews in helicopters carrying the latest aviation and medical technology. These specially equipped aircraft will give clinical staff more room to provide vital patient care with the latest life-saving equipment. New technology on these aircraft combined with exclusive-use air routes will also enable missions to be flown safely in conditions that previously restricted the use of helicopters,” he says.
While these helicopters will operate from Christchurch and Dunedin, the service will be supported with BK 117 aircraft and dedicated crew in bases at Nelson, Greymouth and Queenstown, with an at-call service available from Te Anau.
“HEMS, supported by existing charitable trusts and funds raised by communities throughout the south, is proud to be bringing such a significant advance to the provision of air ambulance services in New Zealand,” Mr Franklin says.
Ministry of Health Group Manager for Community and Ambulance Services, Andrew Inder says the National Ambulance Sector Office (NASO), on behalf of the Ministry of Health and ACC, aims to build a national integrated network of air ambulance services with dedicated crews available round the clock in fit-for-purpose helicopters.
“The aspiration is to bring an equity of access to emergency ambulance services for all communities, and to improve outcomes for patients. HEMS’ commissioning of these aircraft is a significant step toward that goal,” Mr Inder says.
Before the unveiling event today, each helicopter was blessed by local iwi, Ngāi Tahu.
Background Information
About HEMS:
· The existing trusts supporting HEMS are: Otago Rescue Helicopter Trust, Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue Trust, Lakes District Air Rescue Trust and Nelson Marlborough Rescue Helicopter Trust.
· The new Airbus H145 aircraft are the latest version of the older style BK117. The areas of significant improvement in operational capability relate mostly to the aircrafts’ avionics. Digital technology reduces weight and vastly improvements flight capability in adverse conditions. Multiple warning and avoidance systems, self-correcting stabilisation, auto-pilot including stabilised auto-hover make for greater usability and increased safety for occupants.
· In the rear of the aircraft the design allows fitout with the latest clinical life-support systems and more useable space for clinicians to attend to patients’ needs.
· Overall carrying capacity is improved allowing additional fuel or passengers, including patient family members to be carried.
· The balance of the HEMS fleet comprises BK117 aircraft, many of which have been retrofitted to carry technology similar to that provided in the Airbus H145s.
· GCH Aviation holds the New Zealand Helicopter Association Diamond Safety Recognition Award for 30+ years continuous service without injury accident to passengers or crew.
· The new GCH base at Christchurch Airport is the largest general aviation facility in Australasia. The 9,000 sq m building sits on 22,000 sq m land with dedicated runway access.
· It is equipped with a full St. John’s mass casualty incident kit, ready to be deployed anywhere in the South Island.
· It houses the South Island's sole fully integrated purpose-built emergency medical air ambulance facility. The building is equipped with a state-of-the-art patient care facility which allows full patient privacy, double ambulance bay and patient family waiting room. It has its own dedicated engineering hangar with a maintenance team on call around the clock.
· Pilots and medics now have purpose-built rest areas allowing them to be on site 24 hours a day, seven days a week and speciality areas for storage of rescue equipment.
· Owner / Operators of the
o Westpac Rescue Helicopter
o Nelson Marlborough Rescue Helicopter
o NZCC Greymouth Rescue Helicopter
o NZ Flying Doctor Service
· GCH provides four rescue helicopters out of three regions: Christchurch, Greymouth and Nelson. Christchurch has one 24/7 dedicated Westpac Rescue helicopter and one 12/7 (daytime) helicopter, plus another back up helicopter available. Greymouth and Nelson each have one 24/7 dedicated rescue helicopter.
· Once the new helipad on the rooftop of Christchurch Hospital’s Hagley building is open, patients will be able to be airlifted to hospital directly, saving 13 minutes off the time it now takes to transfer patients via Hagley Park.
Above is ZK-IDH (c/n 20271)
· Commercial helicopter operators for close to 30 years.
· Operators of the Otago Regional Rescue helicopter for the last 24 years. Responsible for establishing heli-pad on roof of Dunedin Hospital.
· Created multiple exclusive-use IFR (instrument flight rules) corridors between Dunedin and Invercargill and from Dunedin into Central Otago.
· Air ambulance coverage from Waitaki south, including all coastal and marine territories.
· Recently opened a base in Queenstown with fully dedicated rescue helicopter ensuring swift response to major trauma and injury in the Southland, South Westland and Lakes District areas.
· Four fully dedicated and fully crewed rescue helicopters able to respond 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Three are based in Dunedin and one in Queenstown with an additional backup helicopter when required. All are IFR-capable.
· Dunedin Hospital Intensive care retrieval team available 24 hours per day. On site Intensive Care Paramedics.
· Purpose-built rescue facilities for housing of the dedicated helicopters. Incorporates facilities for training, equipment storage and conference room. Allows for onsite management and resourcing of the rescue team.
· Night Vision Goggle maintenance laboratory. Only CAA certified laboratory in New Zealand undertaking maintenance and servicing of NVGs for most New Zealand Air Ambulance Operators.
· CAA certified flight simulator capable of undertaking Instrument Training and ratings.
· On-site maintenance engineers.
· The H145 is tailored for primary and secondary missions and intensive care transport – benefitting from the easy and safe loading and unloading of patients through wide side sliding doors and large rear clamshell doors.
· Its spacious, unobstructed cabin was specifically designed to meet the requirements set by national medical regulatory agencies. The cabin accommodates one or two wheeled stretchers with partial or full suites of medical equipment for operation by three to five medical personnel.
· The H145 benefits from multiple Emergency Medical Service (EMS) cabin interiors, which were designed in cooperation with leading EMS providers.
· The new Helionix avionics system allows safe and easy operation under challenging conditions.
· The helicopter’s low external sound level allows neighbourhood-friendly operations around hospitals and in urban areas.
· The H145 has a class leading range and payload capacity, a large and uninterrupted cabin area, minimal vibration and noise emissions, and measures to simplify maintenance and minimise operational costs.
One news covered the proceedings. See HERE
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