| The Aircraft |
| Tasmania boasts some of Australia's
most rugged and unforgiving terrain. If you walked around
the coastline of Tasmania, including all the inlets
and bays, you would walk around the longest coast of
any Australian State. The Service averages around 150
missions each year. |
|
These missions have involved;
- Searches for missing bushwalkers, boats and planes;
- Air lifting injured and ill bushwalkers and people
living in remote areas and even off boats which
are miles off shore;
- 'Medivac' or the medical evacuation of
people injured in road accidents and accidents in
remote areas;
- Diving or other water-rescue related accidents.
In the case of many rescues, it is impossible to land
and the casualty is winched into the helicopter and
treated by the paramedics whilst being transferred to
the nearest hospital. |
 |
|
The Westpac Rescue Helicopter is a twin-engine Kawasaki
BK117 which operates 24-hours a day, seven days a
week and is equipped with medical and emergency equipment
enabling it to fly into almost any area in any conditions,
day or night.
|
| The helicopter has a three-person winch
stretching 70m in length and contains a stretcher. The
helicopter is also capable of two-patient transport
when required. It also contains intensive care medical
equipment and a range of rescue equipment. It also has
a 30 million candle power 'Nitesun' searchlight for
night operations. |
 |
| The Search and Rescue capabilities
of Tasmania Police have been extended through the generous
provision by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority
of a Forward Looking Infra-Red (FLIR) system, purchased
at a cost of $US400,000, fitted to the Westpac Rescue
Helicopter. The system enhances search and rescue through
a range of cameras incorporating the latest technology
in thermal imaging. |
