Rescue Crew

The crew is made up of dedicated and highly trained staff. The primary crew, is made up of an experienced Pilot and an Advanced Paramedic Rescue crewman. Dunedin Hospital's Intensive Care Unit doctors and St John Ambulance Advanced Paramedics support the primary crew.

For specialised missions there is a range of support teams including Water Rescue and Cliff Rescue squads, who are on standby.

Pilots

Jason Frost-Evans

Jason joined the Helicopters Otago team and began flying the Otago Rescue Helicopter in 2009. Prior to undertaking the challenges of EMS/SAR, Jason has flown mineral exploration and fire fighting helicopters in the Canadian Arctic and news helicopters in " Lightning Alley" in Florida. He has flown tourism, flight training and general utility throughout New Zealand and has mountaineering experience in the Southern Alps.

Clayton Girven

Clayton joined the Otago Rescue Helicopter in July 2011. Clayton completed his commercial licence in 2001 and started off doing charter and general commercial work until he had enough experience to fly helicopters from tuna boats in the South Pacific. After two tours flying off Taiwanese pursuiners he joined an Austrailian company that specialised in precision power line work. After several years flying in the power line industry, Clayton moved back to NZ where he joined the Philips Search and Rescue Trust and flew from the Palmerston North and Taupo bases prior to joining the Otago team.

David Gale

Dave obtained his commercial helicopter licence in 2001. Dave is the manager/pilot for the agricultural side of the family business of Helicopters Otago Ltd. Dave also assists with the piloting of the Otago Regional Rescue Helicopter.

Graeme Gale
Chief pilot

Graeme is the Managing Director of Helicopters Otago Ltd and the Chief Pilot of the dedicated BK117 Rescue Helicopter which is operated from his Mosgiel Base on Taieri Airfield. He has been flying commercially since 1992 undertaking a variety of commercial and agricultural operations. In 1994 Graeme set up the Rescue Helicopter Service in Otago and was the Chief Pilot of the Bell 206 Jet Ranger which was known then as the “Speights Rescue Helicopter”. This service has now developed under thye auspices of The Otago Rescue Helicopter Trust and operates the Otago Regional Rescue Helicopter. Graeme’s latest project has been the introduction of Night Vision Goggles (NVG). The Otago Regional Rescue Helicopter was the first ACC Contracted Emergency Rescue Aircraft to operate under NVG in New Zealand with the latest technology ANVIS-9 goggles.

Operated Rescue Helicopters since 1994
Flown helicopters 16yrs

Paramedics

Paramedic Rescue crewmen provide critical care in the pre-hospital environment. They are trained in advanced emergency care and trauma scene management. Doug and Ian are permanently assigned to the Rescue Base to allow immediate dispatch in event of emergency.

Doug Flett

Crew Chief

Doug is a Rescue Helicopter Crewman/Winch Operator and St John Ambulance Advanced Paramedic. Doug joined the Rescue Helicopter Service at its inception in February 1994 when the Service was first formed. Doug joined the St John Ambulance Service in 1983, firstly as a Volunteer Ambulance Officer in Milton prior to full time employment with Dunedin St John in 1985. In 2000 Doug undertook fulltime duties as a Helicopter Crewman and Flight Paramedic.

Ian Ridley

Ian joined the St John Ambulance Service in 1983, as a Volunteer Ambulance Officer in Oamaru. He then undertook fulltime employment in 1989. Ian moved to Dunedin in 1997 and in 2000 undertook fulltime duties as a Helicopter Crewman and Flight Paramedic. Ian has been a Paramedic/Crewman with the Otago Rescue Helicopter Trust since they first began operations with the BK117 in 1998. Ian’s nautical expertise brings invaluable skills to the marine/off shore rescue operations. The Role of both Doug and Ian is not only of Advanced Paramedics and also Winch Operators. This involves working closely with the pilot and other medical or rescue personnel.

Other Rescue Partner Orgnisations:

Dunedin Hospital Specialists and Registrars, St John Ambulance Advanced Paramedics and the  Police Water Rescue Squad, Cliff Rescue Squad and the Armed Offenders Squad ( AOS ) all work in close liaison with the Rescue Helicopter crew to support and extend the operational capabilities of the Otago Regional Rescue Helicopter service.

	Order of St JohnRegional emergency control centre and paramedic back-up.
	Dunedin Hospital Specialised Hospital Surgeons and Registrars.
	NZ PoliceSearch and Rescue & National Rescue Coordination Centre (NRCC). Water Rescue Squad
	ACC
	NZ Fire Service