About Us

The Otago Regional Rescue Helicopter is on permanent standby 24/7 to serve the emergency needs of the entire population of the lower South Island, spread over an area of 66,500 square kilometres, it is the largest geographical area in the country. The terrain is as varied as the population, from rolling remote farmland through to high snow covered mountains.

Further Information

Learn about:
The Otago Rescue Helicopter Trust

The History of the Otago Rescue Helicopter Trust

Our operating partner: 
Helicopters Otago Limited

Our Roles

The Otago Regional Rescue Helicopter, with its intensive care and life support capability maintains 24-hour, 7-day standby to respond immediately to serious accidents or medical emergencies throughout the lower South Island. The service also facilitates emergency transfers from regional hospitals and General Practitioners to the specialist tertiary services at Dunedin hospital.

Our rescue helicopter, a BK117 specialised twin stretcher helicopter ambulance is maintained on permanent 24hour standby, 365 days a year.

Hospital Retrieval Role

The Otago Rescue Helicopter touches down on the roof top Helipad at Dunedin City Hospital

The Otago Regional Rescue Helicopter is activated within 4 to 5 minutes for the rapid retrieval and stabilisation of trauma patients, suffering from the effects of a motor vehicle, farming, industrial or recreational accident.

The Helicopter also transfers critically ill and intensive care patients, who require a higher standard of medical care. These patients from out lying areas and remote townships are frequently transferred under the direct supervision of one of Dunedin Hospital's Intensive Care Unit doctors.

The helicopter is also equipped with a specialised Neonatal intensive-care incubator for transferring premature babies and their mothers from throughout the region to the neonatal unit at Dunedin Hospital.

Search and Rescue Role

A mission at sea. The Otago Rescue Helicopter in action over the ocean.

The Otago Regional Rescue Helicopter uses a range of advanced technologies to search and retrieve peolpe in need. The Helicopter is guided by GPS Satellite and state of the art radio directional finding equipment. A Breeze Eastern winch with a 76 metre cable enables rescues from difficult locations. Night search and rescue operations are enhanced with the 30 million candle power Nite Sun.

Offshore Operations can be conducted up to 150 nautical miles off shore, with the attachment of auxiliary fuel tanks.

Whether the mission is search and rescue or medical retrieval from a ship at sea, the BK 117 is well suited and well equipped for the role. Learn more our technologies...