Being suspended in midair in the harness used by Otago Rescue Helicopter Trust aircraft to lift patients in to their helicopters was a lot more hands-on experience with air ambulance issues than he was expecting, Dr Clark said.
"The pilots and paramedics of this new service have an impressive track record of service to our communities.
"I'd be happy to put my life in their hands."
Dr Clark said the new joint venture between Helicopters Otago and GCH Aviation meant a safer and better service utilising existing bases, including 24/7 operations from Dunedin.
The flight was observed by crew in a new rescue helicopter, now in service in Dunedin.
The Eurocopter EC145 was faster, quieter, smoother, had better navigation equipment and had more room for medical staff to work on patients, Otago Rescue Helicopter Trust founding pilot Graham Gale said."It's the same type of helicopter as the current ones, but the more modern version of that - and the first one to be on air ambulance service in New Zealand," he said.
A second new helicopter, an Airbus H145 - the latest version of the EC145 - will join the fleet in July.
That aircraft will have higher specifications, upgraded avionics, an auto-hover function, and was the quietest helicopter in its class.
Although the new aircraft were about 200kg heavier, no alterations needed to be made to existing helipads, Mr Gale said.
Two new helicopters did not mean the end of the line for the current BK117 helicopters.
"They will certainly still be used as we need back-ups to the vehicles which are online," Mr Gale said.
