Based in New Zealand, GCH Aviation has flown emergency medical services (EMS) and search and rescue (SAR) across the country’s South Island for almost
four decades.

The company’s SAR/EMS operations initially used a single Hughes 500 rotorcraft, shared between that division and GCH’s other commercial flight operations, explained Stuart Farquhar, one of GCH’s Emergency Medical Services Pilots.

“The service has developed considerably since then,” Farquhar said, and now includes “six helicopters, 13 pilots, 43 crew/paramedics – full-time, part-time and casual – and a variety of admin roles all solely focused on the helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) side of the business.

“We also work closely with our fixed-wing operations, the New Zealand Flying Doctor Service (NZFDS),” he added.

Christchurch Westpac Rescue Helicopter

GCH’s rotorcraft are based at sites in Greymouth, Nelson, and Christchurch – the latter of which, Farquhar explained, is “the primary and busiest base” due to both Christchurch’s high population and its status as the home of the South Island’s largest hospital.

“With 12 ski fields in [Christchurch and the surrounding region], the winter is a busy time for this base,” said Farquhar. “This base also provides the majority of intensive care helicopter retrievals.”

With 12 ski fields in Christchurch and the surrounding region, the winter is a busy time for this base

He noted: “The Christchurch Westpac Rescue Helicopter base has two dedicated EMS helicopters: one EC145 T2 (Airbus H145) that responds 24/7, and the second – a BK117 – from 08:00–18:00 hrs, seven days a week, to cover the busier times of the day.”

The Christchurch base is presently GCH Aviation’s only instrument flight rules (IFR) capable base, although the other two bases are due to become IFR capable following the delivery of new helicopters in 2025.

ROA Mining Rescue Helicopter

The Greymouth base serves as the home of the ROA Mining Rescue Helicopter – a BK117 that “in New Zealand terms, operates in a relatively remote location serving the west coast of the South Island,” Farquhar explained.

This region often finds itself “isolated, due to extreme weather events that affect the nearby Southern Alps

This region often finds itself “isolated, due to extreme weather events that affect the nearby Southern Alps [a mountain range also known as Kā Tiritiri o te Moana] with flooding and other roading issues affecting ground-based movement/retrieval of patients.”

Nelson Marlborough Rescue Helicopter

By contrast, the Nelson Marlborough Rescue Helicopter – also a BK117 – serves the top portion of the South Island, and is most active during the summer months. During this period, Farquhar noted, the area is a prime destination for “holidaymakers enjoying the great walking tracks, mountain biking tracks, national parks, and water activities in the area” – and getting stranded or injured in the process.

“All the bases have extremely varied environments,” Farquhar continued, “from high-altitude year-round snow-covered mountains to offshore missions, with fishing boats and the like in distress.

“The variety of work keeps the job interesting and challenging for both pilots and medical crew, and requires a broad and extensive range of training requirements to enable missions to be completed safely and professionally for the best outcome of the patients. Medical crew also have additional medical training and advancement to keep them current and at the top of their game.”

Operations

Across its EMS and SAR division, GCH Aviation responds to a large number of missions.

According to Farquhar, the company’s three rotary-wing bases responded to a total of 1,500 callouts in the past 12 months, of which 40% were what is known as a “primary incident” – occurrences such as road collisions, and agricultural or outdoor recreation accidents.

A further 28% were “primary pre-hospital medical” missions, the majority of which are cardiac-related, while 12% were SAR work conducted on behalf of the Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand.

The final 20% of GCH’s operations in this sector are made up of interhospital transfers.

“Our helicopters are normally tasked via the national Air Desk from 111 emergency calls,” said Farquhar.

To ensure the continuity of operations, GCH Aviation also maintains two BK117 helicopters as backup when the primary aircraft are called in for maintenance

To ensure the continuity of operations, GCH Aviation also maintains two BK117 helicopters as backup when the primary aircraft are called in for maintenance. Maintenance work is usually conducted in-house by GCH at the Christchurch base by a permanent team of “10 engineers, with a supporting admin team of three,” he added.

Charitable trusts

While GCH Aviation’s EMS and SAR helicopter operations receive some government funding, a large portion of the financial support they receive comes from charitable donations, overseen by two trusts.

“Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue Trust [founded in 1989] provides huge support for the Christchurch and Greymouth bases,” said Farquhar. “Trust funding is key to enabling the best training to happen across all aspects of our tasking requirements.”

The Nelson base, meanwhile, receives support from the Nelson Marlborough Rescue Helicopter Trust, a separate organization.

Christine Prince, CEO of Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue Trust, explained: “The role of the Trust is fourfold: to raise funds to support the operation of the rescue helicopter service, which is not fully government funded; to fund lifesaving equipment and initiatives that will improve patient outcomes; to ensure the service is sustainable; and to represent the community.”

New aircraft, new equipment

Looking to the future is vital for GCH as it seeks to maintain its operations in the long term.

“GCH Aviation has been there for the communities we serve for several decades,” said Farquhar. “There is always a need to keep advancing the service with the latest medical and aviation equipment.”

To that end, the company has purchased three standard H145s and one H145 D3 from Swiss air medical provider Rega, with the expectation that the new aircraft will be introduced across all of GCH’s rotorcraft bases in the next two years.

Prince added that the new aircraft would improve the standardization of GCH’s EMS/SAR fleet, and that the new H145s are due to arrive from the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2025.

The company is also currently working to develop IFR routes for its EMS services, which will allow it to respond to more incidents, and operate in more difficult flying conditions.

The company is also currently working to develop IFR routes for its EMS services, which will allow it to respond to more incidents, and operate in more difficult flying conditions

Prince added that the implementation of IFR is expected to allow GCH Aviation’s helicopters to respond to 20% more calls than before, as well as improving safety and remote accessibility.

Farquhar also reported that GCH aims to evaluate its onboard medical equipment on an “ongoing” basis, adding: “Medical upgrades on the way include HAMILTON-T1 ventilators, and the latest corpuls monitors.”