Equipment

Taranaki Community Rescue Helicopter Cockpit

Due to the complex nature of the terrain and the substantial Tasman coastline in the Taranaki Province it has become necessary to purchase a wide range of search and rescue equipment that enables the trust to respond to any type of call for assistance. From a powerful “Nite Sun” search light and sub-zero alpine clothing and safety gear to sophisticated locator beacon tracking equipment, the Taranaki Rescue Helicopter Trust must ensure that our crew is appropriately equipped to respond to any type of emergency situation and still remain safe. Working in the harshest of environments, our SAR equipment requires constant maintenance and replacement to ensure the utmost safety for our crew.

Inside the cockpit of the Taranaki Community Rescue Helicopter

Fire Bucket


The Heli-Fire collapsible fire bucket currently in operation has a 900 ltr capacity and an all up weight of 960 kg. With an air operated dual dump gate assembly, this bucket is easily filled at almost any water source, and can deliver maximum penetration on the fire ground in the shortest possible time.

Std Patient Stretcher

EMS Patient Stretcher is used for the majority of our missions. These are a vinyl on aluminum base construction to provide light weight and durable service.

Paragard Winch Stretcher

Primarily used for helicopter winching, our stretcher of choice is the Paragard stretcher, which is a canvas base on aluminum frame used with a certified lifting bridle and karabiner hook-on assembly to provide maximum patient safety and lifting security. While smaller in size than the Ferno type, the Paragard can readily accommodate safe lifting of almost any size of patient.

Basket Stretcher

While the Trust has a float mounted “Stokes” basket readily on hand for SAR operations, the Police Search and Rescue Squad have a number of reliable and innovative options available for use in SAR Operations. This stretcher has limited application due to its size and inability to be broken down to a smaller unit for transportation.

Life Raft

For all off shore search and rescue missions the helicopter is equipped with a Switlik 4 Man Rescue Pod. This pod not only provides added safety for the helicopter crew should an in-flight emergency occur, but also provides an additional rescue devise for the occupants of a distressed vessel found disabled at sea.

Marine strop

The Marine Strop is comprised of a 16mtr Polyester line with a 7mm master ring conversion to 3 x 12mm x 1mtr floated lanyards with stainless steel double action hooks.

Alpine Strop

The alpine rescue strop is comprised of 2 x 25 mtr 12.5 mm nylon 40.5 kn abseil braid, double crimped with stainless steel thimbles at each end. Connected to a 60 kn lifting ring with double mallion rapides at the top end and to a five hole lifting plate at the bottom end.

Helicopter Floats


The Taranaki Community Rescue Helicopter floats were sponsored by AWE Ltd.These allow us to go offshore on missions to the many rigs on our shore line.

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