World Helicopter Day celebrates the helicopters’ impact

There are reportedly over 56,000 helicopters worldwide influencing several industries – rescues and disaster relief, conservation, agriculture, and forestry, and even tourism and filmmaking.

It would be rare to see any unfolding global emergency without seeing a helicopter on the scene, pulling victims from raging flood waters, airlifting people from the roofs of collapsing buildings, or dropping fire retardants from the sky to control raging bush fires.

A perfect tool for rescue missions

Pilot Dan, working for the Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter, has been flying helicopters in New Zealand and abroad for 25 years. “The combination of its unique ability to land and take off so gently with zero speed, often with several people or a significant load on board, and yet then also fly at very high speed to its destination makes it the perfect tool for my job. I still find them fascinating and incredible machines and I love it every time I go flying!”

Faced with daily victory and tragedy, rescue helicopter crews work under extremely intense and challenging conditions and as an important component of the helicopter industry, it’s fitting and appropriate that a day is marked on the international calendar to celebrate the immense contribution helicopters make to their communities.

Meanwhile, Westpac Rescue recently observed that the 2020 decline in helicopters accidents has subsided, with an increase in rural areas and domestic household accidents.