The red carpet is being rolled out to welcome the first of a new flet of rescue helicopters handed over to the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service.
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The new helicopter, delivered by Lease Corporation International, was formally accepted at a small ceremony in Italy and is now on its way to Australia.
The first of Four Agusta Westland AW139 aircraft will come into service in the first quarter of 2017 after undergoing final fit out and training regimes.
General Manager, Richard Jones, who has been in Italy to inspect progress, said it was extremely pleasing to see the first of the new helicopters after years of planning.
“I was very conscious during the handover that it was made possible by the wonderful support the people of the regions provide to the Service to help ensure the safety of our communities.” he said.
“Once again I pass on our appreciation to our sponsors, our volunteers and all members of the community who help to make it possible,’ Mr Jones said.
The new helicopters are larger than the existing Bell 412 and BK117 aircraft flown from bases in Newcastle, Tamworth and Lismore and were a requirement under the new contract issued by the NSW Government.
A new operational base is to be built at Lake Macquarie Airport while the existing Broadmeadow base will remain for maintenance and administration. The base at Tamworth is being upgraded and a new base is being built at Lismore.
The Northern Rivers area, with its base in Lismore, will come under the control of the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service when the new contract comes into operation.
No one has ever paid to be assisted by the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service, Mr Jones said, because of support from the community, as well as NSW Health and the Ambulance Service of NSW, which provide the funds that ensure the rescue helicopters are there when and where they are needed.
Since December 1975 the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service has undertaken more than 30,000 missions helping to save thousands of lives.
The Service works as part of the State’s emergency care chain and has four helicopters that operate 24 hours a day every day of the year.
The team includes experienced pilots, crew, doctors and paramedics who are well supported on the ground by skilled engineers, administration and marketing professionals.
Take a look at the new fleet and the old in the gallery above.