The response to severe medical or accident emergencies in the Upper Clutha will get a boost this week with the introduction of new instrument flight rules (IFR) routes for the Otago Southland Rescue Helicopter.

Under current flight rules the rescue helicopter can only fly as far as Dunstan Hospital in bad visibility. 

To fly into Wānaka (Wānaka Lakes Health Centre) a preassigned flight path using IFR had to be established to enable flying where poor visibility would otherwise preclude a response.

“This is a really significant development that will save lives in the Wānaka area,” Helicopters Otago Ltd (operators of the rescue helicopter service) managing director Graeme Gale said.

“When visibility is poor and the freezing level drops, the only way through is on an IFR route.”

Prior to this week, emergency response in bad weather meant patients had to be transported to Dunstan Hospital by ambulance to access the rescue helicopter, adding significant time when critical life-saving services are needed.

“Overall, this is a very significant piece of infrastructure for the lower South Island enabling the critical rescue helicopter service to reach patients nearly all the time,” Graeme said. 

The funding for the establishment of the IFR route was provided by the Rotary Club of Wānaka from money raised at its 2022 Cropping Competition.

In 2022 the Rotary Club of Wānaka Cropping Competition organiser George Scott told the Wānaka App that the instrument flying route is important to farmers.

“If accidents happen when the weather isn’t great you can get that helicopter right through to Wānaka; it just saves time and gets them back to Dunedin quicker,” he said.

“The community really pulled together to make this happen.”

The emergency helicopter service is operated by Helicopter Emergency Medical Services New Zealand Ltd (owned jointly by HeliOtago and GCH Aviation) and operates under a contract with Te Whatu Ora (Ministry of Health). 

To find out more about the Otago Southland Rescue Helicopter click here.

PHOTO: Supplied