NEW IMPROVED RESCUE HELICOPTER SERVICE STARTS

South Australians will benefit from more helicopters being available to rescue them from dangerous situations by the new and improved Adelaide Bank Rescue Helicopter Service.

Acting Premier Kevin Foley launched the new service at Adelaide Oval with a spectacular display of the yellow and blue customised helicopters’ capabilities, including the STAR Group abseiling from the aircraft and water bombing for the bush fire season.

“Four helicopters will be guaranteed this summer, including one water bomber,’’ Mr Foley said. “After summer, three helicopters will be in service - this is in comparison to the old contract with only two aircraft guaranteed.

 “The new service will provide twice the capacity to perform winch rescues, more capacity for medical retrievals, quieter helicopters for Police patrols and increased capacity to firebomb during bushfires.

“The Adelaide Bank Rescue Helicopter Service is unique in that it provides a helicopter platform for four vital services to South Australians - Hospitals, Police, Country Fire Service and Ambulance.

“Each year the service performs over 700 missions including getting medical teams to crash sites, transporting seriously ill country patients to city hospitals, tracking down cars in high speed chases, searching for people, boats and drug crops and spotting, mapping and water bombing fires.

“Many people owe their lives to this service and I am very pleased to be the Minister responsible for this contract,” he said.

Australian-owned company, Australian Helicopters won the $52 million seven year contract to operate the Adelaide Bank Rescue Helicopter Service in a competitive tender process.

The new service will be headquartered at a purpose-built facility at the Adelaide airport which will also serve as a base for the crew of 17, made up of pilots, crewmen, engineers and administrators.

Chairman of Australian Helicopters, Don McLay said the company had worked closely with the South Australian Government since winning the contract in March and wanted to praise the agencies for their wonderful spirit of teamwork.

“South Australia is providing a role model for the rest of the states to emulate,” Mr McLay said.

“Australian Helicopters has invested heavily in the facilities at Adelaide Airport and we have relocated our former General Manager, David Anderson to the base to ensure it has the best direction possible,” he said. “Australian Helicopters has made a long term commitment to Adelaide.”