Kauaʻi Council approves contract terms for new twin engine helicopter for fire department

The Kauaʻi County Council recently approved contract provisions to move forward with the purchase of a new Airbus H145D twin-engine helicopter, which fire department officials say will enhance the island’s emergency response capabilities.

On Jan. 22, the Kauaʻi County Council approved the Kauaʻi Fire Department’s request to cover indemnification and termination clauses contained in the purchase agreement, as well as general terms and conditions from Davenport Aviation Inc.

The county is providing $18 million in funding for the combined cost of the helicopter, all required equipment and personnel training.

The new helicopter would expand and strengthen the county’s search and rescue, aerial firefighting and disaster response capabilities, according to Fire Chief Michael Gibson.

“We are very excited and grateful,” he said. “This helicopter represents a significant investment in the safety of our community and our responders.

“For Kaua‘i, where terrain, weather and access can be extremely challenging, aviation is a life-saving necessity. This aircraft will strengthen our ability to respond quickly, safely and effectively for residents and visitors alike.”

Under the agreement, the county would assume responsibility for injuries or losses involving its personnel or property while at the seller’s facilities for training or maintenance, and the county would hold Davenport Aviation harmless regardless of fault.

The contract also outlines financial obligations if the county defaults, including reimbursement of costs, termination penalties and forfeiture of prior payments.

Training will occur in Mississippi in phases and will be coordinated with the manufacturer and the vendor as part of the delivery process.

“Our pilots, crew members, and maintenance personnel will complete all required training before the aircraft is placed into service,” Gibson said. “Specific travel dates are still being finalized, but training will occur prior to operational deployment to ensure safety and readiness.”

The new Airbus helicopter will deliver enhanced safety, performance, and capability compared with the fire department’s current single-engine MD 530F helicopter, purchased in 2010.

The new helicopter will offer improved power and stability, greater payload capacity, advanced avionics, and modern safety features designed for complex rescue environments, fire officials said.

The helicopter will also enable the fire department to handle two emergencies simultaneously and avoid what happened Thursday, when the rescue of two German visitors along the Kalalau Trail was delayed due to a search-and-rescue already underway at Kahili Beach for a missing 19-year-old local fisherman.

“When Air 1 is used for situations that do not involve a medical emergency or imminent danger, it can delay our response to life-threatening incidents elsewhere on the island,” Gibson said in a statement on Friday.

He added that the new helicopter will be better suited for “larger carry capacity, adverse weather, and long-range missions, conditions we frequently face on Kaua‘i.”

The new helicopter will be placed into service on the Garden Isle once manufacturing, delivery, training and final certifications are complete. While an exact operational date has not yet been confirmed, the goal is to have the aircraft fully operational as soon as possible.

“This investment reflects a long-term commitment to emergency response, aviation safety, and the protection of life,” Gibson said.