Crew Helmet

Alpha and Gentex dual visor helmets includes lip-lights for night operations, microphone for internal and external communications, and external mounts for night vision goggle equipment.

Night Vision Goggles

The night vision goggles are used to enhance the crew and pilots vision while flying at night. They are a valuable safety tool for night operations, permitting the visual detection of lights and other objects that would not normally be visible to the naked eye.

Night Sun

The Night Sun is used for visual searches at night or night approaches to non-illuminated landing areas. It is remotely controlled from within the helicopter by the Crewman or Pilot and has strength of 30 million candlepower. The Night Sun is attached under the rear belly of the Helicopter.

Winch

Breeze Eastern 450 LB hoist, fitted on an electrically operated boom. The winch has 164 feet of cable, with an operating speed up to 210 feet per minute. The Crewmen controls the operation of the winch during rescue missions, with backup pilot controls available.

Winch Stretcher

The Winch Stretcher is a specialist stretcher, collapsible with a tubular aluminium frame. It can be stored conveniently for use in a helicopter and carried in its own back pack by paramedic or medical staff when winched into mountainous terrain or to vessels at sea.

Winch Rescue Strop

Made of modern, strong, water and rot resistant materials, the Winch Strop is used to lift a single person from either land or sea during a rescue. These strops have been modified to include a buoyancy application as well as ensuring that patients cannot inadvertently slip from the strop.

FLIR

The Forward Looking Infrared Red (FLIR) is used to locate missing persons by detecting their body heat. It is typically used during search and rescue missions in bush terrain and at sea. The FLIR is operated by the Crewmen from inside the Helicopter and uses a video screen to locate heat signatures. Typical detection capability is 1/10 degree Celsius at a range of 300 metres.

Mustang Life Jacket

This Mustang (military spec) life jacket is highly specialised, and is standard equipment for all Crewmembers on over water missions.

It carries a wide range of safety, rescue and survival equipment, such as:

• Strobe light
• Emergency beacon
• Whistle
• Heliograph

Survival Suit

The Pilots and Crewmembers use the Mustang orange survival suit in conditions of extreme cold, such as mountain or offshore rescues. The multi-layered suit prevents the debilitating effects of hypothermia caused by cold air or sea temperatures.

Wetsuit

The wetsuit is used by our rescue swimmers in surf or water rescue missions.

Dry Suit

A recent equipment acquisition, the dry suits are used when operating over water. They have the ability to be worn with or without additional layers of clothing, making them more comfortable in a wider range of temperatures.

Aqua Lung (Underwater Emergency Module)

The Aqua Lung is a miniature underwater breathing apparatus and is a standard piece of equipment for all offshore operations. This equipment is part of the Crew’s lifejacket configuration, and provides emergency air in the unlikely event of having to escape from a submerged helicopter after ditching at sea.

Thomas Pack

The pack carries all of the Paramedics ready use medical equipment. 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 backpack if the Paramedic needs to travel by foot to reach the patient.

Lifepak 12

The Lifepak 12 is a defibrillator and vital life signs monitor. It also has a verbal command advisory function, which can alert the Paramedic or Doctor when to administer an electric charge (defibrillate) to the patient.  A major benefit of the equipment is that it can monitor the patient’s condition, such as blood pressure automatically, which is quite difficult in a helicopter.

406MHz Direction Finding Equipment

The Direction Finder is used to home in on emergency radio beacons.  It is typically used to locate missing persons, boats or planes in distress.

Fire Bucket

The fire bucket shown is secured to the cargo hook under the helicopter and can carry up to 750 litres of water for fire suppression. Water can be sourced from the nearest river, seaside or fire appliance available.

Droppable Life Raft

The life raft self inflates to provide immediate support for multiple persons in the water. The life raft is used for both the rescue helicopter and fixed wing air ambulance services.

Portable Tablet

The portable tablet enables the crew to help the pilot navigate with a moving map in flight. 

Stryker Patient Stretcher

The stretcher allows easy access in and out of the rescue helicopter for the patient and medical crew.  The stretcher is also transferable to St John Ambulances, if required.