SOUTH-WEST Victoria's own search and rescue helicopter slipped into Warrnambool last night with little fanfare, ending a decade of anguish for some campaigners.
The multi-million-dollar BK 117 B2 Plus twin-engine chopper, complete with ambulance capabilities, is to be a permanent fixture at the city's aerodrome.
A private campaign by owner/pilot Tim Chibs and his four Warrnambool mates culminated in three victory laps over the city late yesterday.
Steve Guyett, Tony Franc, Stephen McDowell and David Hedger told The Standard the project had been a long, hard secret to keep.
The men will be trained as the helicopter's first crew members and last night quietly celebrated their involvement with Mr Chibs, their family and friends.
It remains unclear if WestVic Rescue Service, the team of community members behind a long public campaign for a similar service, will embrace the private venture.
Chairman John Robinson said yesterday the project was not associated with WestVic.
Mr Chibs yesterday flew the helicopter from Sydney where it has just completed a contract fighting fires for the NSW Parks and Wildlife Service.
He was born in Nigeria and trained as a pilot in Britain before arriving in Australia in 1982 where he has since built a helicopter business based at Moorabbin.
Mr Chibs said it brought him great joy to give a region what it had wanted for so long.
"We have had Warrnambool in our hearts for a long time and made the decision that it was time to come here," he said.
"We are a commercial entity. The core of our businesses is emergency services.
"I fell in love with this place a long time ago. A helicopter of this capacity is needed here and strategically for our business it is the right place for us to be."
Mr Chibs said the chopper, one of two he owned, was the only one between Melbourne and Adelaide with full emergency response capabilities.
"We can do anything that anyone wants with it," he said.
"One moment we can be firebombing and the next rescuing people from the sea. It takes about four minutes to get airborne."
Mr Chibs said the helicopter's side rescue winch could lift two or three adults to safety from as far below as 75 metres.
He said the helicopter could be configured to seat as many as 10 people plus a pilot or two patients on stretches, a doctor, nurse and crewman.
A night-sun, or spotlight, is also fitted for night ground searches.
With a full load of fuel the helicopter is capable of return trips to South Australia and Melbourne.
Mr Chibs stressed ambulance operations could only be conducted under the auspice of Air Ambulance Victoria, with which he was finalising arrangements.
He did, however, say the chopper was already accredited to access The Alfred hospital's new state-of-the-art trauma centre.
Mr Chibs said he had supported WestVic's campaign for many years and would continue to support his good friend John Robinson in his efforts.
"We totally support John Robinson and are appalled it has taken nine years...At the end of the day, we were just tired of a helicopter not being here," he said. "The business relies on revenue. At the end of the day we need that to survive here.
"What we need to do is draw on our commercial enterprises to provide revenue to keep this helicopter in a community that needs it."