Designed by Dunedin paramedic Ian Ridley, one of two paramedics seconded to work on the Otago Regional Rescue Helicopter, the 340kg training simulator was built by Mosgiel company Paynes Aluminium, as a joint project between Garden City Helicopters, Southern Lakes Helicopters and Helicopters Otago.
Garden City Helicopters general manager Simon Duncan, of Christchurch, said the simulator cost about $18,000 to build, compared with costs of up to $30,000 for helicopter crew to train with a similar simulator in Australia or in the North Island.
The unit simulated what would happen in the case of a helicopter water crash.
More than 50% of helicopter crashes were in fresh water and research showed the chances of getting out of a helicopter that had crashed in to water were improved by 90% if those in the helicopter had water escape training.
As all three companies were involved in search and rescue it was practical for them to have their own simulator for training.
It could also be used for training others involved in search and rescue, for example, police search and rescue staff and water rescue teams.
The simulator passed a risk assessment test at Dive Otago's training pool in Dunedin this month.
Mr Duncan is putting together a training and exercise manual and the simulator should be ready to be used for training by early in the New Year, Mr Ridley said.
The simulator would move between Dunedin, where it would be used for training for people from the lower half of the South Island and Christchurch, where people from the northern half would be trained.
