Training

The Hawke's Bay Helicopter Rescue Trust provides ongoing, highly specialised training programmes to ensure the Pilots and Crew are ready for any emergency situation.

These programmes include:

Winch Training

This programme is split into four different categories - land, boat, water and night. The demands and risk factors can vary greatly between the categories, for example:

• Boat winches can be performed up to 100 nautical miles off shore and in rough sea conditions
• The rescue helicopter may have to fly into small areas or very close to cliff faces

Winch training is conducted at least once every three months and includes all of our Pilots, Crewmen and Paramedics.

The crew also have the opportunity to practice their training indoors before going out in the rescue helicopter. The platform was generously donated by the W&BSturmey Trust.

 

Nightsun Training

The Nightsun is a 30 million candlepower searchlight. Special training is required as factors such as depth perception can change dramatically at night. Introductory and ongoing Nightsun training is conducted and includes Pilots, Crewman and Paramedics

NVG Training

The Lowe Corporation Rescue Helicopter crews have been using Night Vision Goggles for all night operations since 1997. A considerable amount of expertise has been amassed in that time, making night operations safe and efficient in conjunction with the use of the Nightsun and FLIR equipment.

The training is carried out by the Pilots and Crew who work together, as a pair, in using this equipment.

FLIR Training

This specialist infra-red equipment requires considerable initial and ongoing training to enable the equipment to be quickly fitted to the helicopter, and tuned for best detection results for the search conditions, whether it be day or night, over land or sea.

H.U.E.T. (Helicopter Underwater Escape Training)

HUET training is conducted by an external organisation, to train the Crew in what to do if the helicopter ditches in the water. The H.U.E.T. is designed to turn upside down and the Crew practice exiting the helicopter in a calm and safe manner, and inflating their life jackets. All crew are exposed to this training opportunity on a rotational basis.

Continuous training for role changing

The Lowe Corporation Rescue Helicopter carries operational, medical, aviation and rescue equipment based on the needs of the mission. The Crew practice attaching:

• Nitesun
• FLIR
• Static Line & Belly Strap
• Fire bucket

Directional Finding Training

Each year the Lowe Corporation Rescue Helicopter responds to a number of searches initiated by emergency beacons. These can be from planes, boats or people lost in the bush. The Crew train with our directional funding equipment to locate these emergency beacons.