Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Service - Flight Crew

Flight Crew

The service's pilots are highly trained having flown thousands of hours in twin engined aircraft.

The air crewman assists the pilot with communication, navigation and landing by providing the pilot with accurate clearance, helicopter safety and operating the rescue winch.

A rescue crewman is qualified and proficient in the operation of both equipment techniques necessary to be despatched from the helicopter to a person or persons in distress and to render the necessary aid prior to evacuation by the most appropriate means. This includes going down the winch, scaling cliff faces and swimming. Rescue crew are also responsible for passenger safety during Passenger Transport Operations.

Special Casualty Access Team (S.C.A.T.) paramedics possess elite skills in intensive care / Advance Life Support (ALS) and trauma management, have skills in accessing and treating patients in difficult or remote locations e.g. canyons, vertical access, caves, etc. SCAT work closely with the local accredited rescue units to access, assess, triage and treat patients. When required, SCAT may also provide assistance with the extrication of the patient. They provide patient care and are responsible for preparing the aero medical evacuation missions, coordinating with the flight crew and other medical personnel, as well as liaising with retrieval services.

Doctors specially qualified in Emergency Care and retrieval medicine are also part of the team. This enables the crew to provide critical care to a patients anywhere it is needed.