Frequently Asked Questions
How Do I Get A Search And Rescue Helicopter To Come Out?
You must contact BASARNAS, the Indonesian national Search and Rescue Agency. They will make decisions regarding when any service is used.
Please do not contact us directly as we cannot dispatch a helicopter without a request from BASARNAS and can only reiterate that you must contact them.
What Is The Exact Aircraft That Will Be Used For Search and Rescue Flights In Bali?
The Bell 412EP. It’s a twin-engine utility helicopter that is well-known for safety, reliability and versatility. It’s ideal for running Search and Rescue operations in the diverse landscapes of Bali.
Importantly, it has a spacious cabin that can be used for medevac and at the same time, we can operate a hoist capability which can be used in both coastal and mountainous terrain.
What Is The Current Operational Staus Of The Helicopter? When Will It Be Operating In Bali?
The helicopter, as we go to press, has arrived in Bali, and the crews are now being trained.
The service will become operational in Quarter 1, 2026.
What Kind Of Capacity Does The Helicopter Have?
It can carry 2 pilots and 11 passengers with some room for baggage to be stored in the tailboom and main cabin. It can carry a maximum weight of 5,398 Kg (that’s 11,900 lbs).
This will usually be split into a payload of 1,769 Kg (3,900 lbs) and fuel, and then it can take a further 818 Kg (1,800 lbs) of passengers, crew, and baggage.
What Is The Typical Flight Crew On A SAR Mission?
The crew is usually going to be a pair of pilots, a hoist operator, and a hoist rider/rescueperson. If necessary, a doctor may also join the crew for a specific mission.
The rear seats in the helicopter can be removed to provide space for a stretcher, and any rescue equipment can be stored in the well seat area.
Can The Helicopter Operate Night Rescue Missions?
No. Not at the moment. The Indonesian Civil Aviation regulations prohibit night operations in helicopters throughout the archipelago. That means the Bali Search and Rescue helicopter can only operate between sunrise and sunset.
In practice, that means the helicopter must be on the ground slightly before sunset, and that can affect where the helicopter can conduct rescue work later in the day.
What Special Capabilities Does The Helicopter Have For Search And Rescue?
It depends on the mission, as the payload inside the helicopter can be customised based on the needs of the mission.
But it can carry a stretcher or a rescue basket or up to 11 personnel if transporting ground staff to an incident.
How Far Can The Helicopter Travel?
The helicopter can spend up to 3 hours in the sky, but 0.4 hours is always kept in reserve to guard against emergencies. That means with a cruising speed of around 222 km/h (120 knots), the potential distance for any given operation is 550 km.
What Can Impact The Reach Or Response Of The Helicopter Team?
Both temperature and altitude can have an impact on the performance of the helicopter. The higher the external temperature, the more the performance of the vehicle is reduced; in a similar fashion, the higher the altitude, the lower the performance of the vehicle.
So, for example, the ground effect (that is, flying 60 feet above the ground) means that the helicopter can hover easily with the maximum load at around sea level.
But if you go up to 11,000 feet above sea level, you will find that the capacity of the load for hovering is reduced by about 20%!
And although the helicopter can easily operate in cloud conditions, it may not do so around any airport.
Explain How A Search And Rescue Operation Works In Brief?
All calls for help must come through BASARNAS, which is the Indonesian national search and rescue agency.
They decide what kind of assistance should be given to each call. If they need our helicopter service, they contact our operations room to activate the helicopter.
The response time at this point may vary as the helicopter may have other priorities at the time of the call. However, the objective is to be in the air within 30 minutes of the call, allowing for time to refit the helicopter as required for the specific mission.
The pilot then assesses the request and comes up with a plan of action that takes into account the weather conditions, the fuel requirements, the assigned crew, etc.
There is a mission brief delivered prior to the flight, as flight plans are filed, and a flight manifest is put together, seeking to ensure that documentation for weight and balancing is properly completed.
How Long Does It Take To Put The Helicopter In The Air?
The target is 30 minutes, but this depends on the complexity of the mission and whether the helicopter is currently on another mission.
There may be a need to return to base, have seats removed, the right equipment placed onboard, etc., which may take longer than 30 minutes.
What Happens During The Search And Rescue Operation On The Scene?
The helicopter crew communicates with any existing search and rescue teams at the scene, if there are any. If not, the crew must assess the situation themselves when they arrive on the scene.
The Pilot in Command (PiC) consults with the crew and then decides whether to land or to use the winch. This depends on the terrain, the personnel available on site and in the air, and aircraft performance.
They may send down just a winchrider or the winchrider may be sent down accompanied by the doctor.
The injured person may be stretchered or placed directly in the strop on the winch. The PiC must exercise clear thinking and ensure that they make the right decisions to bring about a successful mission without ever risking the health and safety of the crew or the helicopter.
What Is The Average Flight Time To Reach Critical Zones?
Java, the furthest we’re likely to fly, may reach the maximum search radius. Mount Rinjani is about 45 minutes, and anywhere in Bali can be reached within 20 minutes.
What Are The Standard Post-Rescue Procedures To Be Followed After A Mission?
SGI will be working with Nusa Medica to ensure there is an ambulance on standby at the heliport in Benoa to take the patient to the hospital.
There is then a full post-mission debriefing with all the crew to ensure that any issues can be resolved in the future and to reflect on what went well.
This debrief is then summarised in a report, which is submitted to the Head of Operations for further review.
Any equipment that is used during the rescue is checked and cleaned, and any consumables used are replenished.
How Many People Are On Each Mission? What Are Their Roles And Responsibilities?
This will vary, but the standard crew will be the Pilot in Command (PiC), a co-pilot, a hoist operator, a hoist rider, and, if one is needed, a doctor can be added to the crew.
The PiC is the person with overall responsibility for the mission. They are responsible for the successful outcome of each mission, but their first priority is always the safety of the helicopter and its crew.
The co-pilot is there to assist the PiC and does radio work, navigation, and completes checklists. If they are needed, they will also fly the helicopter as instructed. During the rescue, they monitor all onboard instrumentation to ensure that no limits are broken.
The hoist operator manages the hoist whilst the pilot keeps the helicopter steady over the target. In the case of an emergency or hoist failure, it is the operator’s job to resolve things.
The hoist rider (rescueman) is the person who goes down on the hoist to conduct the on-scene rescue. They may also be accompanied by the doctor if needed.
Once the rescue is complete, the hoist rider returns to the helicopter with the patient.
What Rescue And Emergency Equipment Is On The Helicopter?
The helicopter has a hoist, and if needed, it can be adapted to hold a stretcher or if there is an at-sea rescue, it can carry a rescue basket for ocean-based rescues.
There will always be rescue strops onboard that can be used in the event of any rescue. There are also floats held onboard and lifevests, to assist people in the water prior to lifting.
What Training Programs Has The Search And Rescue Team Undergone?
The hoist operator must undergo recurrent and initial hoist training. This will include the use of hoists over water, over land and the use of the “highline” technique.
The pilots also complete training on search and rescue missions to prepare them for hostile terrains.
All pilots must pass an annual assessment and conduct regular simulator training.
All crew must complete the HUET (Helicopter Underwater Escape Training) every 3 years.
The hoist operator must pass an annual assessment. The hoist rider must pass regular advanced first aid training. Doctors will also receive annual hoist training.
What Is The Maintenance Schedule For The Helicopter?
The helicopter is inspected on a daily basis and prior to flight. All the rescue equipment must be checked daily. The hoist must be tested prior to every flight.
The pilots must conduct a full systems check at the start of each day.
Post-flight inspections are also carried out.
In addition to these checks, there is a regular servicing interval for the helicopter. The hoist is also serviced after a specific number of uses, and the hoist cable is also changed after a specific number of uses or if any faults are found with it.
How Many Personnel Are Assigned To Pre-Flight Readiness And Technical Checks?
One engineer is required for the daily inspections. Servicing requires 2-3 engineers.
Are Donations Made To The Search And Rescue Effort Tax Deductible?
OK, this is a complicated issue because the status of tax deductions is decided not by where the donation is going to, but where it’s coming from.
A general rule of thumb is to talk to your accountant about whether or not a donation will be tax deductible.
For the specific cases of Australia and Indonesia, however, we have specific answers. Please be aware that this information is accurate as we go to press on the 14th of October, 2025. All tax laws are subject to change at any time and again, it’s best to talk to an accountant before making any major donations.
Australian tax payers may only make tax deductible contributions to charities that have been awarded DGR (Deductible Gift Recipient) status. There are many Australian charities that don’t meet this requirement with their overseas bodies.
Sadly, at this moment, Bali SAR does not have this status and thus, Australians cannot claim donations as tax deductible.
For Indonesian contributors, both corporate and individual donations may attract tax deductible status but only as long as your total donations (to as many causes as you wish to support) do not exceed 5% of your total income for the year.