GCH Aviation (Garden City Helicopters) opened its doors to the community on Saturday, welcoming a large crowd to its base near Christchurch Airport.
Visitors enjoyed a behind‑the‑scenes look at the Westpac Rescue Helicopter and NZ Flying Doctor Service, along with helicopter rides, static displays and a beautifully restored 1940s Douglas C‑47 aircraft.
One of the day’s highlights came when members of our Armed Offenders Squad (AOS) took centre stage.
The scenario unfolded as two offenders drove aggressively onto the grass near the hangar, one waving a baseball bat. A helicopter landed nearby and AOS members moved in with a calm, tactical approach.
One offender quickly surrendered, while the other tried to flee before being apprehended by a police dog. Both offenders were taken away in a marked car, much to the delight of the large crowd.
Senior Sergeant Aaron Brady said it was a great opportunity to support our partner agencies and give the community an insight into one of our specialist teams.
"We were only too happy to support GCH and Westpac Rescue for the work they do," says Aaron. "We had no shortage of volunteers to be part of the day.
"It was fantastic to see such a huge turn out from the community and the team had a great time putting on an entertaining show for everyone there."
