HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The Honolulu Fire Department has a new $10.6 million tool for its firefighting and search and rescue operations.

The City unveiled its new modern twin-engine Bell 429 helicopter at a press conference on Thursday.

“This is a significant upgrade to our current fleet. And that’s the future of our department,” said HFD Chief Sheldon Hao.

HFD’s new twin-engine helicopter can fly further, longer and smarter than its three previous single-engine MD 520 Notar models.

It’s a game changer: The plane has a larger cabin, more fuel, advanced avionics and doubled the power to help pilots better navigate rough terrain and handle higher winds. strong.

“We can reach anywhere in the state quickly. So, in the event of a large-scale disaster, we would be able to respond anywhere to conduct evacuations, resupply drops or whatever might be necessary,” said HFD Senior Pilot Dustin Harris.

The helicopter can lift 260 gallons of water and make multiple drops with a single bucket, compared to a 96-gallon drop.

“If you put three times as much water on a fire in the same amount of time, it will have a huge impact on our ability to control and quickly manage wildfires”

For search and rescue missions, a winch will do the heavy lifting.

Currently, rescuers must use a rope to reach patients who are then tied and suspended from the helicopter.

The new hoist can lift 600 pounds, so rescuers can be dropped off where the person is in distress and bring patients into the large cabin, where emergency care can be provided.

A camera connected to the cockpit helps the pilot see what is happening below.

It is part of an advanced electronic panel intended to ensure the safety of pilots and their passengers.

“If the weather deteriorates to the point where we can no longer see outside. This helicopter is equipped for single-pilot IFR flight, which means we can navigate safely with a single pilot, even when we can’t see,” Harris said.

To accommodate the $10.6 million helicopter, HFD’s aerial program has nine pilots and is hiring relief pilots and lift operators.

The City also plans to reduce its maintenance costs by $2 million in the long term.

“This investment in state-of-the-art equipment ensures that our emergency response teams have the best resources available to effectively serve our community,” said Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi.

HFD hopes to begin using the aircraft by June, but expects to see it in the skies now on practice and practice missions.

Copyright 2024 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.