King County secures $1 million to upgrade rescue helicopter capabilities
The US federal funding will support avionics and hoist upgrades designed to strengthen search and rescue operations across Washington state
King County, Washington, has secured more than US$1 million in federal funding to upgrade one of its rescue helicopters, supporting the continued delivery of search and rescue (SAR), disaster response, and aerial firefighting missions.
The funding, announced by US Congresswoman Kim Schrier alongside the King County Sheriff’s Office, will be used to install new safety and operational equipment, including a replacement rescue hoist and matching instrument panels across the county’s two hoist-equipped helicopters.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, standardizing cockpit layouts between the aircraft is intended to improve crew coordination and operational efficiency during rescue missions.
The King County Sheriff’s Office Air Support Unit has operated since 1991 and introduced hoist rescue capability following major flooding in 2001. Since then, it has responded to incidents across all but two counties in Washington, making it one of only three counties in the state to provide helicopter hoist rescue services.
The unit conducts approximately 25 rescues each year and supports a range of missions, including wilderness rescue, disaster response, aerial firefighting, and personnel transport during emergencies.
Schrier said: “As wildfires become an increased threat across Washington state and outdoor recreation picks up, we need to make sure our communities can always get the help they need during an emergency.”
Elsewhere in the sector, the Texas Department of Public Safety recently took delivery of a specially configured Airbus H125 equipped with enhanced communications, surveillance, and mission systems to support law enforcement, SAR, and public safety operations.
Image courtesy of the office of Congresswoman Kim Schrier.