50th Anniversary of 'Westpac Lifesaver' Helicopter Rescue

[helispotter]

Media reports this week made me aware of the 50th Anniversary of the 'Westpac Lifesaver' Helicopter Rescue Service. At the time of course the major sponsor was known as the Bank of New South Wales. The service commenced on 29 September 1973. I understand this was initially using an Airfast Bell 47G-3B-2, VH-CSW. It is reported that this is now the longest serving civilian based rescue helicopter service in the world. Well done.

Various items marking 50 years can be found by searching "Westpac Lifesaver" including a nice short compilation video of archival footage of VH-CSW, Bell 206B-2 VH-FHF, Bell 206A VH-UHC and the more modern helicopters to have served with the service:
https://www.westpac.com.au/help/community/rescue/rescue-helicopters/

Here is a nice ABC radio interview with Ian Baddam marking the occasion:

https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/illawarra-mornings/westpac-50th/102917570

[RVDT]

Originally Posted by helispotter

It is reported that this is now the longest serving civilian based rescue helicopter service in the world. Well done.

Need to be careful of what is reported these days - but the fact is they got the idea from NZ who precede them by about 3 years?

What next? Phar Lap?

[KiwiNedNZ]

RVDT I remember back when I was a kid at Ardmore they had a Hiller UH12 that would go from Ardmore up to Piha every friday afternoon, do surf life saving over the weekend and then back to Ardmore sunday afternoon to start ag work on the Monday morning. Was operated by James Aviation and flown by Rex Nawalanic and then followed by FH1100 and then into 206 which I think was flown by Keith McKenzie. Was the forerunner to the ARHT wirth their AW169s of today.

[helispotter]

Originally Posted by RVDT

Need to be careful of what is reported these days - but the fact is they got the idea from NZ who precede them by about 3 years?...

Just as well I said "reported". I did realise Victoria's Bell 206 "Angel of Mercy" helicopter ambulance service commenced even earlier. The page below indicated that had its first emergency call-out in March 1971, but it hasn't continued as same organisation to the current day:

http://www.aeroflight.co.uk/ops/publ...ce-service.htm

So had the NZ service remained essentially the same operation since it was initiated, which was part of the claim made of the 'Westpac' service? In any case, 50 years is a long run for any such service.

[StephanKoelliker]

Originally Posted by helispotter

Media reports this week made me aware of the 50th Anniversary of the 'Westpac Lifesaver' Helicopter Rescue Service. .... The service commenced on 29 September 1973. I understand this was initially using an Airfast Bell 47G-3B-2, VH-CSW. It is reported that this is now the longest serving civilian based rescue helicopter service in the world.

Swiss Air Rescue (REGA) was founded in April 1952 in Twann / Switzerland as a private foundation for air rescue. The foundation still exists (it now has > 3'500'000 supporters), and they flew their first helicopter rescue in Dec 1952 in Davos / Switzerland, using a Hiller 360 with an external balloon car attached for transporting the injured. In 1957 the first Bell 47 joined the REGA, and in 1966 they started rescueing people without the helicopter actually landing (mountains / alps). In 1971 they started rescueing people from "impossible" locations such as the Eiger-Nordwand (https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eiger-Nordwand). Many milestones were following, and today 21 helicopters plus 3 ambulance jets (Challenger 650) are in daily operation. On average, nearly 60 rescue operation per day are flown (2022).

S