Bali Gets a Search and Rescue Helicopter

Bali Enhances Emergency Response Capabilities with First Search and Rescue Helicopter. Plans to Increase SAR Personnel by 566%

Bali News: Bali Gets a Search and Rescue Helicopter

(5/28/2011)

The Bali Search and Rescue (SAR) service has received its very first rescue helicopter from the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas).

The new helicopter was handed over on Thursday, May 26, 2011, following the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Basarnas and the provincial government of Bali.

As quoted by Bali Post, Ketut Parwa, the head of the SAR services for Bali, said: “I hope the work of our SAR team becomes more effective and efficient with the launch of this new helicopter. In the future, we will try to add more helicopters to improve the service of the SAR team.”

The new Bali-based SAR helicopter is an Indonesian-made NBO-105 aircraft capable of carrying 5 passengers, including the pilot and 2 victims. Developed as one of the first twin-engine multi-purpose helicopters, the NBO-105 boasts a hingeless rotor system cited as providing better in-flight handling capabilities over helicopters utilizing conventional rotor systems.

The Bali NBO-105 comes equipped with an array of special SAR equipment including  a “life locator” and a search camera. These two pieces of equipment will allow the hovering helicopter to search for living victims among the ruins of destroyed buildings and mudslides.

The Bali SAR service is not only enhancing the life-saving equipment at its disposal, but will soon be increasing its complement of personnel from 75 to 500.

Source: Bali Discovery