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The incident, which occurred last week in Arthur’s Pass National Park northwest of Christchurch, is believed to be the first time Apple’s innovative new feature has been successfully used in the ANZ region.
The authority has come under fire over the incident, which killed 12-year-old Amber Jess Millar and the helicopter’s pilot, 40-year-old Troy Thomas, after The Australian obtained documents under FOI suggesting CASA had known of previous reckless conduct by Thomas’s company, Horizontal Falls Seaplane Adventures, in 2018.
The Leonardo AW139 was conducting a late-night medical rescue at Manly in May 2021 when its tail rotor struck a small tree, though the crew did not notice until after they had already discontinued the approach and landed at another site a kilometre away.
The Robinson R44, registered VH-KOV, was brought down by a seized clutch actuator lower bearing resulting in a loss of engine power to the rotor system, the ATSB found. Two passengers were severely injured, while the pilot and third passenger escaped with minor injuries.
Registered VH-VQX, the aircraft – the first of two on order from Airbus, with the second to arrive by the end of the year – makes WA Police the first law enforcement jurisdiction in the Southern Hemisphere to operate the H145.
The investment will include renovations and the construction of new facilities to accommodate the helicopter and crew, which will arrive from 2025.
