November 8, 2013
RACQ CareFlight Rescue’s Sunshine Coast and Bundaberg-based helicopters could soon be equipped with high-tech night vision goggles to improve crew safety, thanks to a donation by Energex and new funding announced this morning by the State Government.
Currently both rescue helicopters operate without the aid of night vision goggles even though more than one-third of their lifesaving missions are conducted at night.
The total cost of the project – which also includes reconfiguring the cockpit, modifying the helicopters and training the crews – has been estimated at about $1 million.
The night vision goggles will enhance visibility during night retrievals so crews can better detect hazards and obstructions, and land more safely.
The desirability of having night vision equipment available was demonstrated in May last year when a medevac helicopter, operated by Emergency Management Queensland, was forced to conduct an emergency landing in the dark. Fortunately the crew of this aircraft did have access to night goggles.
Energex, a long-time supporter of the Sunshine Coast helicopters, has committed $100,000 over two years to purchase eight sets of the state-of-the-art equipment.
“Over the past two decades Energex and our customers have contributed more than $11 million towards CareFlight’s Sunshine Coast rescue chopper operations and we’re delighted to continue this support,” Energex CEO Terry Effeney said.
“This technology has been on CareFlight’s wish list for a long time and we were in a position to kick that off for them, so we did.”
This initial seed funding, which CareFlight had planned to announce this morning at the start of a fund-raising campaign to have the equipment operational within 12 months, was trumped by a media release from the State Government stating $3.57 million had been allocated to helicopter rescue services located between Mackay and the NSW border for night vision equipment.
A State Government spokesperson was unable to tell southburnett.com.au how much of this new funding had been allocated to the RACQ CareFlight’s Sunshine Coast Helicopter Rescue Service.
RACQ CareFlight also appeared to be unsure of the finer details of the announcement.
“Further to this morning’s night vision goggles announcement, RACQ CareFlight Rescue would like to acknowledge the State Government’s funding decision to assist all Community Helicopter Providers throughout Queensland in achieving night vision capabilities,” an RACQ CareFlight media statement said.
“We’re excited to hear the news today of the government’s support of NVGs. We have not yet been advised about how the funding will be distributed to the three Community Helicopter Providers but are looking forward to working with all stakeholders to make sure the project is implemented as soon as possible.”
- Related article: Emergency Landing Sparks Call For Night Vision Equipment
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Night Vision Goggles In Action
(video from the Sonoma County, California Sheriff’s Helicopter Unit)
