The first of three rescue helicopters for the Canterbury West Coast region in New Zealand has been unveiled at the GCH Aviation air rescue base in Christchurch. The H145 Airbus rescue helicopter has spent the last three months undergoing commissioning. Now it's ready for action, it will join the service as a Westpac Rescue helicopter with the tail number ZK-IGA.

“This is a defining moment for our helicopter rescue service. It signifies the start of the biggest transformation the service has seen in its 40-year history. We are buzzing with excitement to see this H145 helicopter take flight,” says Christine Prince, CEO of the Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue Trust.

In 2024, the Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue Trust launched Mission 2026, a major campaign to transform the rescue helicopter service. The cornerstone of Mission 2026 was the modernisation of the trust's rescue helicopter fleet. In August of this year, the trust confirmed the purchase of three H145 helicopters to service the Canterbury and West Coast region and supported the purchase of a fourth helicopter for Nelson Marlborough. The purchase was possible thanks to the financial backing of Westpac NZ along with support from the community and service operator GCH Aviation.

“Buying these helicopters has been an enormous undertaking, but we believe our community deserves a world-class rescue helicopter service. That's what these helicopters will help provide,” Prince adds.

The H145 Airbus helicopter is the gold standard in air rescue. Its advanced avionics and IFR capability will enable the crew to fly more often in more adverse weather. A larger cabin provides more space to give critical care, tail and rear mounted cameras improve visibility, while a weather radar helps pilots avoid dangerous weather during flights.

Rescue helicopter pilot and IFR training manager Brent Fredericksen says the H145 machines will revolutionise the rescue helicopter service, vastly improving patient outcomes: “The H145 is the ideal machine to use across our challenging South Island terrain and can be flown using Instrument Flight Rules, which means we'll be able to fly in more adverse weather. This machine is built for rescue missions; it's fast, reliable, and designed to save lives.”

Alongside purchasing the helicopters, the trust has raised $1.5 million through Mission 2026 to fund new technology, equipment and specialist crew training.

Prince says such a significant investment in the service would not have been possible without the support of Westpac NZ, Health New Zealand and service operator GCH Aviation. The second and third helicopters are undergoing commissioning now. The fourth will arrive in Christchurch in early 2026.

“Seeing our first H145 take flight is incredible but there's more work to do,” Prince goes on. “We need to raise a further $600,000 to get the remaining three helicopters commissioned and fully operational.”

Critical care paramedic on the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Scott Mears says the H145 makes all the difference. “The spacious cabin gives us room to deliver critical care in flight, while its stability and advanced systems mean we can focus on the patient even in tough conditions. Having a standardised fleet will also improve efficiency and safety. The H145 is not just a helicopter, it's a flying emergency room that helps us save lives when every second counts,” Mears says.

The arrival of the Airbus H145 helicopters represents a significant upgrade in capability and reliability. The aircraft will replace the long-serving BK117 fleet and form part of a standardised H145 fleet operated by GCH Aviation across the upper South Island.

Four H145 helicopters have been purchased with three now delivered. The first of these helicopters, delivered in August, entered service on 15 December 2025, with the remaining aircraft expected to become operational progressively through 2026, following reassembly, testing and commissioning.