Safer Skies For Westpac Waikato Air Ambulance

9 December 2004

Safer Skies For Westpac Waikato Air Ambulance

The Westpac Waikato Air Ambulance is about to install a new traffic collision avoidance system, thanks to a grant from SKYCITY Hamilton Community Trust Grant’s second funding round and other funding raised.

The Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) is a safety measure that informs pilots of potential aircraft presence that lies within their current air space. This new piece of technology will ensure a safer flight path for those people in need of emergency medical assistance.

Grant Bremner, Pilot/Manager Westpac Waikato Air Ambulance says, “We appreciate the new technology that has become available to us and we embrace it with the knowledge that it enhances the safety of our working environment. We endeavour to provide our staff and users of the Air Ambulance with excellent and safe service and are grateful to the SKYCITY Hamilton Community Trust for enabling us to make this happen.”

The Westpac Waikato Air Ambulance was established in 1987 and has operated for 17 years to provide emergency assistance to residents within the greater Waikato region. The service has access to medical crew consisting of doctors and nurses from Waikato Hospital, and Paramedics from St John Ambulance. A medical professional is always on board the Air Ambulance.

Margaret Evans, Chairperson SKYCITY Hamilton Community Trust, says, “The Trust is delighted to support community groups who are available to help people in need and we are pleased to have been able to contribute to the necessary technology sought by the Westpac Waikato Air Ambulance.”

The SKYCITY Hamilton Community Trust was established in 2003, as part of the SKYCITY Hamilton licence applications process, to provide funds for community and charitable purposes. To date, the Trust has distributed more than $850,000 in grants to the greater Waikato community. The Trust’s second round of grants was announced on 30 November to local community groups. Those groups were officially awarded their grants at a function at SKYCITY Hamilton on Wednesday night.

For more information about the SKYCITY Hamilton Community Trust, please visit www.skycityhamilton.co.nz or fax SKYCITY Hamilton on 07 834 4901.

ENDS

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