Bell 222B Helicopter

Twin engine helicopter based at Waikato Hospital.
Crew: Usually 1 pilot, 1 patient, 1 doctor, 1 flight nurse or 2 St John Ambulance paramedics.

The Bell 222 helicopter is the only certified single-pilot IFR helicopter in Australasia. This means that only one qualified pilot is required to fly it. IFR means flight is with reference to the instruments only, i.e. under instrument flight rules. This allows the Air Ambulance to operate safely at night and in poor weather.

The helicopter is equipped with specialised:

• Communication Systems - radio systems allowing pilots to talk from the helicopter to ambulance, police, fire, civil defence, SAR, marine and forestry.
• Navigational Systems (to IFR standards)
• Colour moving map GPS
• Terrain and traffic avoidance technology
• Autopilot
• Full Medical Suite - including stretcher, defibrillator, propac, suction, and oxygen.
• NiteSun - thirty million candle power search light.
• Winch and Longline - enabling the helicopter to lift patients or crew in and out of difficult terrain.
• Flysafe - a computer-based satellite aircraft tracking system.

Helicopter flight times from Hamilton base (Waikato Hospital)

Thames 20 mins
Otorohanga 12 mins
Tauranga 22 mins
Te Kuiti 15 mins
Putaruru 15 mins
Taumarunui 35 mins
Te Awamutu 10 mins
Tokoroa 20 mins
Whakatane 40 mins
New Plymouth 50 mins
Rotorua 25 mins
Huntly 10 mins
Taupo 35 mins
Auckland 35 mins