Coastal Gaslink donates helicopter rescue kit to North Peace Search and Rescue

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Members of North Peace Search and Rescue (NPSAR) say they’ve received a piece of search and rescue equipment through a donation from Coastal GasLink.

According to a December 20th press release from the organization, they had previously used a “human external transportation system” (HETS) – a piece of equipment that allows workers to rescue people from dangerous situations via helicopter – after receiving one in 2007.

However, that HETS eventually reached the end of its service life, and NPSAR lacked the $85,000 required to replace it.

In 2022, Coastal GasLink purchased a HETS kit for use on its northern job sites, according to the NPSAR press release.

“At the end of the Coastal GasLink project, they no longer had a need for the HETS kit and were looking to sell it,” the release reads.

“Bailey Helicopters in Fort St John (who had been training/flying the Coastal GasLink HETS team during construction), expressed an interest in moving the kit to Fort St John (as Terrace SAR already has a HETS Team in place in the Northwest Region).” 

The release says Bailey Helicopters and NPSAR agreed to a partnership to operate a HETS team in Fort St. John.

Coastal GasLink reportedly agreed to donate the kit to NPSAR in October as part of its Community Support Initiative.

As part of the collaboration with Bailey Helicopters, members of the search and rescue team are currently receiving training, and the HETS kit is expected to start seeing use in early 2025.