Hi-Tech Crane Simulates Air Rescue
This Condra 4-ton overhead crane with a suspended helicopter fuselage accurately replicates helicopter motion in the hover, allowing simulated but realistic training of emergency rescue teams.
They are part of the University of Johannesburg’s newly opened Rescue Centre.
By lifting, rotating, and tilting the suspended Eurocopter A365N3 helicopter fuselage above a five-metre-deep survival pool, the crane helps deliver an authentic, low-risk training experience at economical cost, allowing trainees to prepare for real-world rescue conditions.
Officially opened in October 2025, the Rescue Centre is a four-storey-high, 3000-square-metre building equipped with a plethora of specialised machinery to immerse trainees in controllable air rescue conditions of high wind, rough seas, and heavy rain.
Hundreds of hours of design work went into the integration of the crane and helicopter through a complex system of electronics and control systems.
UJ’s Rescue Centre addresses a critical gap in regional training capabilities by providing an accessible environment to train and re-train coast guard teams, oil-rig rescue, and multiple other crews who execute land-sea emergency rescue missions.
It is the only facility of its kind in Africa, establishing Johannesburg as the continent’s hub for advanced rescue training. Teams that previously had to train abroad for mandatory certification can now train closer to home at lower cost and without any need to use actual helicopters in potentially dangerous weather conditions.
