The Chopper

For the technically minded or those wondering why it costs $3000 per hour to run the chopper, here are some specs...


BK117-B2 HELICOPTER
Call sign: WESTPAC 3 
Manufactured: Japan, 1989 
Aircraft: BK117 Twin Engine – Single Pilot – Instrument Flight Rated 
Engines: 2 Lycoming LTS 101 producing 750 shaft horse power each 
Fuel: Aviation turbine fuel – Jet A1 
Fuel Capacity: 709 litres 
Fuel Burn: 300 litres per hour 
Cruise Speed: 125 knots or 230 kilometers per hour 
Range: 2 hours plus 20 minutes reserve or 460 kilometers 
Payload: 1100 kilograms including fuel 
Maximum Weight: 3350 kilograms 
Maximum Height: 10,000ft 
Crew (per flight mission): 

• 1 Pilot; 1 Aircrewman / Winch Operator;
• 2 Medical staff; 
• 1 Rescue Crewman (if required for winching operations)

Equipment: 

• Single Pilot Instrument Flight Rated
• DAFCS Auto Pilot (Digital Automatic Flight Control System)
• Colour Weather Radar with both vertical and horizontal modes
• Dual Garmin GPS integrated with Garmin moving map graphic system
• Laptop computer based moving map system
• Medical oxygen system including suction
• Advanced Life Support & patient monitoring equipment
• Fitted for 1 stretcher patient & 2 sitting
• Goodrich Lucas 2 person rescue winch, 270ft of cable load rated to 272 kilograms
• Nitesun search light, 30 million candle power 
• VHF / UHF Emergency Distress Beacon Homer

Communications:

• Next G mobile telephone
• Satellite telephone
• 4 Aviation band VHF radios
• 2 Aviation band VOR navigation receivers
• 1 Aviation band ADF navigation receiver
• 1 GRN radio (Government Radio Network – Ambulance)
• 1 UHF radio (Company Helicopters, Public service, fire etc)
• 1 VHF High radio (Marine)
• 1 VHF Low radio (Police)