Media Release

Solid Energy Rescue Helicopter gets $300,000 'BA' upgrade, night-vision equipment

15 August 2007

The Solid Energy Rescue Helicopter has undergone a $300,000 "BA" upgrade, making it faster and able to carry an additional 150kg. The additional payload capacity is important for tasks such as transporting mines rescue and Police search and rescue teams up and down the West Coast.

As well as new rotor blades, the upgrade includes special night-vision goggles (NVG), compatible lighting for the cockpit, and a new dual satellite/cellphone system with tracking device to allow the operating company, Garden City Helicopters, and emergency communications centers to track the helicopter's progress. (This tracking system can be viewed here )

With NVG, the huge distances between towns on the West Coast will no longer be such a problem for night missions so long as the weather is suitable. Despite being able to "see in the dark", for flights to be carried out, the helicopter crews must still abide by strict CAA night VFR (visual flight rule) minimums.

The service has been anticipating the arrival of the latest-specification NVG equipment for about a year. It has taken time to receive State Department approval for the equipment to be exported from USA to New Zealand.

The Greymouth-based rescue service now has two sets of NVGs, each costing USD$10,500. The helicopter crews completed their training with a US instructor in November.

"Once re-currency training has been completed in a week's time, the goggles will be operational and this will make a huge difference to the number of missions we can take on, particularly in an area like the West Coast where town lights are few and far between," says Bridget Neill, Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue Trust's Marketing and Communications Manager.