Chopper celebrates 40 years of rescues

Greg Brownson has been on more that 1800 missions during his 27 years as a rescue helicopter crewman. Photo / Richard Robinson

After 27 years as a rescue helicopter crewman, Greg Brownson has seen his share of changes.

Once a lifeguard with the Red Beach Surf Club, the 59-year-old's goal was to join the-then Surf Lifesaving Helicopter Squad.

He became a volunteer crewman in 1983 when the operation was based at Piha Beach, and full time with the Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust in 1991.

Since then he's been on more than 1800 missions and saved "hundreds" of lives.

He's also seen the introduction of GPS systems, night-vision goggles, infrared and terrain avoidance systems - aids that have made the job safer for the three crew members who typically go on missions.

But while there are new gadgets, and staff are better-trained and skilled, some things don't change.

"The ones that really tear at me are the children, especially the innocent children in a road accident," he said.

"You don't get used to it over the years, but you learn to deal with it in a similar way to fire and ambulance.

"You do the best you can, get back to base, debrief informally among yourselves, re-stock and get back out there on another job."

Last night, Mr Brownson and other rescue helicopter pioneers - among them former Waitakere Mayor Bob Harvey, Rodger Curtice, Russell Williams and Warren Smith - celebrated 40 years of the helicopter service.

Over that time the Westpac rescue helicopter has flown about 15,000 missions.

These days it flies more than 550 a year.

The Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust, which administers the service, is extending its operations, with one of the Westpac choppers to be based in Whitianga on the Coromandel Peninsula from December 26 to Anniversary Weekend at the end of January.

But despite generous donations there is still a funding shortfall for the summer service out of Whitianga of about $20,000.

Local people and the 52 per cent of the area's ratepayers who come from Auckland are being asked to help out to ensure the service can continue.

* Number of flights: 15,000

* Annual number of flights: 550-600

* Litres of fuel used per year: 120,000

* Cost per year for a three-crew 24/7 immediate-response team: $4 million

* rescuehelicopter.org.nz

* A helicopter crew will be based at Whitianga from Boxing Day until Anniversary Weekend