Issue/Background

The Auckland (NZ) Westpac Rescue Helicopter Trust services the greater Auckland metropolitan area, and like all Search & Rescue organisations associated with coastal based cities, spent a significant amount of time flying searches over water.

The problem is to keep accurate spacings over water where their are no reference points to work from. The image at right, taken from the track log of a search conducted in the Wellington Region (not by Auckland Rescue Heli) in early 2011, illustrates the problem.

If the person or boat has not been found on the 1st pass, then the area has to flown again, and again, until search HQ can be quite confident they are not there.

Then pilot Darryl Sherwin wondered if the system used by ag pilots could be adapted for flying Search and Rescue patterns, and contacted TracMap.

Solution

TracMap loaned the Auckland Rescue Trust one of their agrcultural guidance systems, and it quickly became apparant to Darryl and the other pilots that it made his job of piloting the helicopter a lot easier and less stresful, and resulted in significant time taken to succesful rescue.

As a result, TracMap developed what is now the award winning SAR guidance system.

The photo below shows the system as it was being installed in one of their BK helicopters.  Its location means that either the pilot of co-pilot can access and use the system.

Outcome

Is best described by Martin Paget, Officer in Charge, Police Maritime Unit, Auckland, New Zealand

"For over 25 years in the police search and rescue, I have been looking at practical and affordable ways to enhance our aerial searching effectiveness. Finally, the TracMap system has given us the solution we have been seeking.

This not only significantly increases the chances of locating targets quickly, meaning more lives will be saved, but also ensures that we don't waste critical time and money having to re-search areas we have already covered."