'$1m extra' for new aircraft

A confidential report shows Auckland's proposed new rescue helicopter will cost almost $1 million extra a year to run and warns that high operating costs could reduce the level of service to the region.

The Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust is trying to raise $7 million through public donations and grants to buy a Bell 412 to replace its existing helicopter when the lease expires at the end of this year.

The trust's management this week dismissed claims that service would suffer when costs of operating the new helicopter, used by many services in Australia, increase by almost 70 per cent - from the current $1.33 million to $2.23 million - in the first year.

The information was contained in a consultants' report commissioned by the trust last year. Donors are being promised a greatly improved service with the Bell 412, chosen for its extra space that can take four stretchers and more medical personnel.

Consultant Peet Aviation has warned that additional fuel and maintenance costs could divert cash from the rescue service and "place a strain on the cash streams from major donors and public donations".

That "may lower the effectiveness ... in the delivery of [emergency medical] services for the Auckland region".

Trust chief executive Rea Wikaira dismissed the comments, saying the increased operating costs would be met by "cost restructuring" and a "projected rise in income".

Mr Wikaira said the service could not expand without a bigger helicopter. The trust leases the Westpac rescue helicopter, the BK117, from private company Airwork.

The contract has been the subject of a dispute, with the helicopter trust taking Airwork to arbitration last year over the cost of the lease.

Mr Wikaira said the current lease was signed by former trust management on New Year's Day 2002 for a five-year period.

He said new management discovered the trust was bound to a multi-million dollar deal and took independent advice. "We were told we were paying through the nose."

It is understood the court ruling went in favour of the trust and Airwork is appealing.

Mr Wikaira believes much of the criticism over the Bell 412 purchase has come from people with an interest in maintaining the status quo.

It has been claimed the Bell 412 would not be able to operate out of Mechanics Bay because of its size, although the Civil Aviation Authority and independent aviation experts dismissed the claims when contacted by the Weekend Herald.

Mr Wikaira said the trust was seeking a new base, with Auckland, Whenuapai and Ardmore airports among the potential locations.

The Peet report compared five helicopters: The Bell 412, a Sikorsky 76B, a BK117-B2 and two Augusta models, the twin-engine A109 Power and the single-engine A119 Kola.

The analysis shows the Bell's bigger size and power come at a price.

The helicopter will be restricted in the distance it can fly - 402 nautical miles compared with the 460 nautical miles that the BK117 can do.

The Bell, with a cruise speed of 122 knots, is slower than the current helicopter, which travels at 130 knots.

There is a waiting list of three years for a new helicopter and the trust will buy second-hand. It would take three to six months to fit the aircraft out.

The trust has raised $1.3 million so far.