The Lloydminster Rescue Squad has received a $100,000 gift from Cenovus Energy that has allowed them to get a second airboat.
The watercraft will greatly improve the squad’s capabilities, especially in conditions where there is thin ice, say officials.
The nineteen by eight-foot Avatar airboat meets the Canadian Coast Guard specifications, says Chief Norm Namur. He says if the boat were to go under, it would still float to a certain degree. The vessel has a hard floor that is slip-resistant compared to the present airboat, which they will be keeping in use. The boat has more storage for equipment and seating.
“This one also has two seats up front, so we can carry more passengers and two seats up above. One is for the pilot and there is one for a spotter. So, you have two people and of course, the higher up you are, the better it is to look down into the water and below the surface of the water,” says Namur.
Also, the boat will improve response times as it has counter-rotating blades which give it more thrust and horsepower. Namur says the crew have to wear ear protection to mask the roar of the engines, but this offers greater peace of mind for someone who hears the loud engines off in the distance and knows that help is coming. The engine on the old boat has around 300 horsepower, while the new rescue vehicle is closer to about 600 horsepower, adds Namur.
The flat bottom of an airboat allows it to go over any debris in the water. The Avatar is heavier than the older vessel. Namur says one of the reasons they will be keeping the older boat is that airboats go to places that other boats cannot. So, if one boat gets stuck, then they have a backup plan.
In expressing the gratitude of the Lloydminster Rescue Squad, officials see the Cenovus gift as a great addition especially in icy conditions as the winter season is coming on.