Services

Tasmania boasts some of Australia's most rugged and unforgiving terrain.

The twin-engine Westpac Rescue Helicopter is one of the most sophisticated in the world. It is a state-of-the-art mobile emergency medical room and is able to fly in virtually all weather conditions during the day or at night and can manoeuvre within the most rugged terrain.

The Service averages around 160 missions each year.

These missions involve;

• Searches for missing bushwalkers and vessels;
• Air lifting injured and ill bushwalkers, those living in remote areas and from vessels at sea;
• 'Medivac' or the medical evacuation of people injured in road crashes and crashes in remote areas;
• Diving or other water-rescue related accidents.

On occasions Tasmania Police have utilised the Westpac Rescue Helicopter to perform police operations This may involve criminal activity or response by specialist police units.