Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue Trust completes fleet renewal
The New Zealand-based operator now operates a fleet of four Airbus H145 rescue helicopters
Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue Trust has announced the completion of its MISSION 2026 fleet renewal program on 1 July.
The service purchased three Airbus H145s in August 2024, and also supported the purchase of a fourth for the Nelson Marlborough service. The first rotorcraft under that order was delivered in 2025.
Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue Trust also invested NZ$2.7 million in an Entrol cockpit and winch simulator, funded specialist crew training, and aircraft configuration to support the renewal.
The aircraft were bought from Swiss Air-Rescue Rega, due to the lead time for new Airbus rotorcraft being over three years, with a view to accelerating the process of fleet renewal.
The new H145s are all instrument flight rules (IFR) capable, and to support this, the Trust has been working with local communities to install a network of IFR-capable helipads.
“We can now fly in more adverse weather, in a machine built for rescue missions,” said Brent Fredericksen, Rescue Helicopter Pilot and IFR Training Manager at Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue Trust. “Advanced avionics and lifesaving medical technology allows us to respond faster, more safely, and more effectively than ever before.”
Anton Drazevic was recently appointed as the Trust’s new CEO.
Oliver Cuenca
Oliver Cuenca is a Junior Editor at AirMed&Rescue. He was previously a News and Features Journalist for the rail magazine IRJ until 2021, and studied MA Magazine Journalism at Cardiff University. His favourite helicopter is the AW169 – the workhorse of the UK air ambulance sector! He also led the creation of Waypoint: The AirMed&Rescue podcast, serving as its Production Editor and co-host.