The Aerocool Rescue Helicopter provides a 24-hour air emergency medical service to the Coastal Bay of Plenty Region in the North Island. Since the service was founded in 2000, it has touched the lives of more than a thousand patients.
Specially equipped for rescues, the Aerocool Rescue Helicopter attends search and rescue missions, operations involving a winch, night operations, time-critical inter-hospital transfers, and provide assistance to NZ Fire, Land Search and Rescue and the Armed Offender Squad.
These missions wouldn’t be possible without the dedication and skill of the incredible team of men and women who make up the crew of the Aerocool Rescue Helicopter. The flight workforce consists of full-time experienced Critical Care Flight Paramedics (CCFP), Crewmen and Pilots. Each member of the team brings a specialist skillset, enhancing the safety and efficiency of rescue missions.
Team
Vanessa Richmond
Group Manager
Leads Philips Search & Rescue Trust and oversees the Fundraising, Marketing, Administration & Finance teams
Kirstin Tye
Project Manager
Leads all relevant PSRT business projects, while providing support to the wider team
Angela Cranfield
Finance and Administration Manager
Oversees and supports all things related to Administration and Finance
Jenny Barris
Finance Processor
Processes donations that are made across all bases
Laura Healion
Office Support & Customer Service Specialist
Provides administration support within the Finance and Administration Team and Customer/Donor support
Whitney Smith
Fundraising Manager
Oversees all areas of fundraising, including setting the fundraising strategy & implementing initiatives
Ayshea Abela
Corporate Relationship Coordinator
Looks after our corporate supporters & our regular donor program, helping these amazing donors support their rescue helicopters
Catherine Cook
Community Fundraising Coordinator
Supports community fundraisers, helping them raise funds for their rescue helicopters and looks after our tele-fundraising program.
Keryn Peddle
Donor Care Coordinator
First point of contact for our generous donors, and provides support with whatever they need
Tyra Coffin
Fundraising Administration Support/Intern
Provides support to the Fundraising Team
Sharni Weir
Sponsorship & Marketing Manager
Leads on all areas of Sponsorship & Marketing. Oversees the marketing & communication strategies to support fundraising initiatives
Tash McGowan
Sponsorship & Marketing Coordinator
Looks after our family of sponsors, and coordinating collaborative ways to work together
Bridget Ross
Marketing & Communications Coordinator
Manages social media platforms, creating engaging content and communicating with our supporters via campaigns & media
Vicky Marland
Digital Marketing Coorindator
Looks after our Website, SEO, Google, and implements our online strategy
Gillian Crompton
Patient Coordinator
Looks after our community of patients and families, sharing stories with our family of supporters
Helicopters
Specifications & Equipment
The Aerocool Rescue Helicopter is a Kawasaki BK117. This single-pilot twin-engine helicopter has commonly been used as a rescue helicopter due to its speed, reliability and ability to fly close to cliff faces which makes it the best aircraft for all types of missions.
Crew
Your Pilots
With proven experience in a diverse range of flying conditions, and logging thousands of flight hours, a rescue helicopter pilot is trusted with the safety of all on board.
Clayton - Pilot
Liam - Pilot and Base Manager
Todd - Pilot
Hendry - Pilot
Your Crewmen
As the extra eyes and ears for the Pilot and Critical Care Flight Paramedic during a mission, safety on board and around the aircraft is their priority including winch operation, navigation, obstacle identification and safe landing during flights.
Ben - Crewman
Bill - Crewman
Iain - Crewman
Kat - Crewman
Your Critical Care Flight Paramedic
A critical care flight paramedic is trained to perform advanced medical intervention and life-saving procedures within a rescue helicopter environment.
Janine - Critical Care Flight Paramedic
Andy - Critical Care Flight Paramedic
Dave - Critical Care Flight Paramedic
Felicity - Critical Care Flight Paramedic
Tony - Critical Care Flight Paramedic
Your Operations Team
Muir - Medical Director
Barry - Pilot Training Manager
Charlie - Chief Pilot
Chris - Chief Operating Officer
Graeme - Clinical Operations Manager
Hugo - Clinical Development Manager
History of the Aerocool Rescue Helicopter
The Aerocool Rescue started out as the Tranz Rail Rescue Helicopter, founded in 2000. TECT and Trustpower joined up to become principal sponsors of the helicopter in 2004, and the service was renamed the Trustpower TECT Rescue Helicopter.
In 2007, the Ian Pain Memorial Hangar was built, sponsored by Vern and Barbara Pain. In April 2018, the helicopter was upgraded from the single-engine Squirrel to the twin-engine BK117.
By 2019, the Aerocool Rescue Helicopter had employed full-time Crewmen and Intensive Care Paramedics, and TECT had become the sole principal sponsor, giving it the name it was known as between 2019 & 2022: The TECT Rescue Helicopter. In November 2022, it was renamed the Areocool Rescue Helicopter as Aerocool became the principal sponsor. Since its inception, the crew have undertaken over 4,100 missions.
Philips Search & Rescue Trust (PSRT) is the charity responsible for fundraising and promotion of the North Island’s largest pool of community rescue helicopters, including the Aerocool Rescue Helicopter. Encompassing a fleet of rescue helicopters and fixed-wing planes, the service provides air health and rescue services free of charge to the public on a no-fault basis.
In 2007, the Ian Pain Memorial Hangar was built, sponsored by Vern and Barbara Pain. In April 2018, the helicopter was upgraded from the single-engine Squirrel to the twin-engine BK117.
By 2019, the Aerocool Rescue Helicopter had employed full-time Crewmen and Intensive Care Paramedics, and TECT had become the sole principal sponsor, giving it the name it was known as between 2019 & 2022: The TECT Rescue Helicopter. In November 2022, it was renamed the Areocool Rescue Helicopter as Aerocool became the principal sponsor. Since its inception, the crew have undertaken over 4,100 missions.
Philips Search & Rescue Trust (PSRT) is the charity responsible for fundraising and promotion of the North Island’s largest pool of community rescue helicopters, including the Aerocool Rescue Helicopter. Encompassing a fleet of rescue helicopters and fixed-wing planes, the service provides air health and rescue services free of charge to the public on a no-fault basis.
