Life-Saving Helicopters: The Future of Hawai'i Fire

We visited the Big Island of Hawai’i to hear the inspiring story behind The Daniel R. Sayre Memorial Foundation, a volunteer-run, non-profit organization dedicated to providing essential equipment and training to the Hawai'i Island Fire Department.

Thanks to the foundation’s efforts, the fire department now operates fire trucks, fire engines, off-road firefighting vehicles, ambulances, ATVs, jet skis, and helicopters — including a brand-new Airbus H125 helicopter.

Hawai’i Fire Department’s chief pilot, Kalei Gregory, talks to us about operating the H125 for a variety of roles including EMS, search-and-rescue, and fire suppression on the Big Island.

In a few years, the department will also be the lucky recipient of a new Airbus H145 helicopter, thanks to funding secured through the Sayre Foundation.

Video by Tivoli Films

👉 Subscribe now to our channel and hit the notification bell 🔔 to stay updated with our latest videos. Be the first to know about cutting-edge developments and important news in the aviation world.

📢 Follow us on social media:
* X: @VerticalMag
* Instagram: @VerticalMag
* Facebook: @VerticalMag
* TikTok: @verticalmag

#Sayrefoundation #Hawaiifiredepartment #Bigisland #AirbusH125 #AirbusH145 #MD500 #Helicopter #Verticalmag

[davisgg]

I’m surprised at all the different options over water with a single engine helicopter and no pop out float kit. The roll of the operation is all about safety but you don’t operate with the equipment that is available to make it a safer operation.