Rescuers need funding for new night eyes

Nelson Marlborough Rescue Helicopter Trust is hoping a campaign to purchase new night vision goggles will see it right in continuing to provide 24/7 assistance.

The service launched fundraising efforts this week to secure two upgraded sets of goggles, which will enable the helicopter’s crew to operate during the hours of darkness. Around 25 per cent of the service’s 500 missions each year are undertaken at night.

Pilot Baz McAuliffe said the use of night vision goggles was a godsend for crews and allowed more people to benefit from the rescue service.

‘‘We’re still flying visual flight rules, so at night we’re still allowed to fly at night without goggles – but frankly, some of the places we get tasked to, we would just have to turn them down because we can’t go in without them – they’re such a huge aid to us.’’

‘‘It’s like driving your car down the road at 100kmh with your headlights turned off – they’re that crucial, so if we haven’t got the goggles, we tend to fly higher to ensure we’re clear of terrain.’’

Prior to the availability of the goggles, air rescue crews were forced to decline a high number of after-hours callouts, unless flying conditions met the minimum required visibility parameters.

NMRH general manager Paula Muddle said the trust received funding for two sets of goggles in December 2005, but had to wait over two years for United States State Department and New Zealand Government approval before they were first used, in a 2009 cave rescue.

The current supply of goggles had lasted well for almost a decade, but a costly tube malfunction in one set has prompted the need for an upgrade.

‘‘It just wasn’t beneficial to get them fixed – it’s about $10,000 to fix the tube, and a new one these days costs about $18,000,’’ Muddle said.

She said the service hoped to secure two sets – a combined cost of $36,000 – through the fundraising campaign to allow for changes in technology and to futureproof itself.

A Givealittle page is now live, with Summit Real Estate and its team kickstarting the campaign with a $2500 donation. Donate at https://givealittle.co.nz/fundraiser/ help-save-lives

tim.oconnell@stuff.co.nz

MARTIN DE RUYTER/STUFF Nelson Marlborough Rescue Helicopter pilot Baz McAuliffe wearing night vision goggles. The rescue helicopter is starting a campaign to fund raise to replace the goggles, which enable the crew to fly at night.