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From December 2008, a new Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter will take to the skies in WA. Coastal communities in WA will now have the security of knowing that the Westpac Helicopter is helping to keep their beaches safe.

Westpac has agreed to a three year sponsorship of a Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Service operated by Surf Life Saving WA (SLSWA). With the WA helicopter, Westpac now has national support for aerial rescue services.

The Helicopter service will improve SLSWA's surveillance of beaches (especially those not patrolled by Lifesavers or Lifeguards) and hazards along the coast as well as SLSWA's ability to respond to emergencies or imminent threats to life. By gathering intelligence regarding emergency situations it will also improve the response of other emergency service organisations such as Water Police, Polair, and Volunteer Marine Rescue.

Facts about the Westpac Helicopter:

• The Westpac Rescue Helicopter for the state is a Bell 206 Jet Ranger
• It will be temporarily based at Rouse Heads (North Port) in Fremantle.
• It will patrol an average of three hours a day on weekends and public holidays between 10am and 7pm throughout the summer months.
• It will patrol the broader metropolitan area with flight paths between Dawsville in the South to Yanchep/Capricorn in the North.
• Apart from the pilot, the service is crewed by volunteers.