Air ambulance trust aims for new plane
A night of glitz and glamour will kick-start the Taranaki Air Ambulance Trust’s newest fundraising project.
On October 15 the trust will hold a formal dinner and auction at the hangar at which the trust hopes to begin fundraising for a new $2 million aeroplane.
‘‘We will have a really good evening of food and wine,’’ trust manager Shona Glentworth said. ‘‘Jeremy Elwood is the entertainer. He’ll be speaking and then we’re auctioning off items so we’ve got some art work and other items.
‘‘This is open to anybody who wants to come and have a really good night, support us and a really good cause.’’
The air ambulance is a charitable trust that transfers patients from Taranaki to specialist care in other parts of the country including Hamilton, Wellington, Auckland and Christchurch.
’’We would transfer seven to 10 patients a week on average.’’
Taranaki District Health Board pays for the service, and the pilots are contracted through SkyWest Aviation.
‘‘We fundraise for the infrastructure that’s really needed to run that service. We use telefunding as our normal means of fundraising.’’
At the moment the trust is at
‘‘We're flying an old technology aircraft.’’
Shona Glentworth
the latter end of raising money for new $200,000 engines for the plane.
‘‘The dinner and charity auction that we’re having is to finish off the fundraising for that but also to launch a campaign for a new aircraft in about two years’ time.
‘‘The engines need to be replaced every 1600 hours of flying time, which is about two-anda-half years.
‘‘So every two-and-a-half years there’s that decision around new engines or new aircraft. Which one do you go for? So in this cycle we’d like a new aircraft next time around because we’re flying an old technology aircraft.’’
The current plane is a Cessna 421C, made in 1980, which is kitted out with stretchers and all the gear needed.
At the dinner food is put on by Tairoa Lodge & Cottage, the MC is Dman Entertainment, and Sam Bennett is the auctioneer.
Tickets cost $145 each, or people can buy a table of 10 for $1250. There are sponsorship opportunities for businesses.
For more information email admin@taat.org.nz.