SLSWA operates two helicopters – the Perth Metropolitan service, and the South West service.
The Perth service is based at Rous Head in Fremantle, performing coastal surveillance patrols and emergency response missions throughout the greater Perth metropolitan area; from Mandurah in the south to Yanchep in the north and around Rottnest Island. Our Perth based service is operational from September to April each year.
The South West service, based out of the Busselton Margaret River Airport, operates from September to April each year with a focus on providing coastal surveillance patrols on weekends and holidays (public and school) over popular coastal destinations between Bunbury and Hamelin Bay.
The Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter Service in WA has been operating from Fremantle since 2008 and Busselton since 2013 and is proudly supported by the Government of Western Australia and partnered by Westpac, who in 2017 renewed their partnership with Surf Life Saving for a further 5 years, taking the national partnership to 49 years – one of the longest community partnerships in Australia!
Not sure what to do if our helicopter sounds its siren while you are in the water?
Visit our Coastal Safety page for more information.