The Grassroots Trust Rescue Helicopter is powered by a fully operational BK-117 Kawasaki helicopter with single-pilot instrument flight capability and operating around the clock, with a flight workforce consisting of pilots, crew, and in-house Critical Care Flight Paramedics (CCFP).
The Grassroots Trust Rescue Helicopter responds to callout to the roadside and off-road incidents, marine mayday calls, bush and mountain search and rescue missions, hospital to hospital transfers, and rural and remote medical and accident emergencies.
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 Coordinator
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 Grassroots Trust 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.
Jodie - Pilot
Lance - Pilot
Mark - Pilot
Ross - Pilot
Your Crewmen
As the extra eyes and ears for the Pilot and the 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.
Chappy - Crewman
Graeme - Crewman and Base Manager
Leigh - Crewman
Sam - Crewman
Your Critical Care Flight Paramedics
A critical care flight paramedic is trained to perform advanced medical intervention and life-saving procedures within a rescue helicopter environment.
Ben - Critical Care Flight Paramedic
James - Critical Care Flight Paramedic
Rene - Critical Care Flight Paramedic
Schalk - 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 Grassroots Trust Rescue Helicopter
The Grassroots Trust Rescue Helicopter was established in 1991, formerly known as the NZ Rail Helicopter. It has undertaken over 10,600 missions since its inception. The helicopter was based at the airport and was brought to life by generous volunteers. In 2003, the Philips Rescue Hangar was built by the NZ Army, officially giving the rescue crew their own base.
In 1996, the helicopter upgraded to a Squirrel AS350A machine and Tranz Rail took over as principal sponsor. It was rebranded as the Square Trust Rescue Helicopter in 2002. As the service grew, the need for a new helicopter became apparent and June 2015 marked the official launch of the new BK117, which continues to save lives in the Manawatu and Whanganui regions to this day. In September 2022, the Palmerston North Rescue Helicopter was renamed as the Grassroots Trust Rescue Helicopter.
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 Grassroots Trust 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 1996, the helicopter upgraded to a Squirrel AS350A machine and Tranz Rail took over as principal sponsor. It was rebranded as the Square Trust Rescue Helicopter in 2002. As the service grew, the need for a new helicopter became apparent and June 2015 marked the official launch of the new BK117, which continues to save lives in the Manawatu and Whanganui regions to this day. In September 2022, the Palmerston North Rescue Helicopter was renamed as the Grassroots Trust Rescue Helicopter.
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 Grassroots Trust 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.
