38 | Flight International | 17-23 February 2015 flightglobal.com
AUSTRALIA
SPECIAL REPORT
Rio Tinto Life Flight Jet, with the support of
mining company Rio Tinto. The aircraft can
carry three stretcher patients and up to three
clinical staff, and has transported more than
1,000 patients. It has a customised Lifeport
PLUS aeromedical configuration and can fly
from any location in Western Australia to state
capital Perth within 3h.VERSATILE
Western Operations is set to expand its jet fleet
with the new Pilatus PC-24 twinjet, which
combines the versatility of a turboprop with
the cabin size and performance of a medium-
light jet. It will have dual main wheels landing
gear with an anti-skid braking system, a sepa-
rate cargo door and an optimised wing for
short-field performance.
RFDS Western is reluctant to talk about the
PC-24 as deliveries are not scheduled until
2017 and it has yet to finalise interiors and de-
tails. It is “very excited about the aircraft”,
however, says Nick Harvey, executive general
manager of corporate affairs.
Western Operations signed a fleet sales con-
tract with Pilatus for the PC-24, dubbed the
“super versatile jet”, at EBACE in 2014, com-
mitting to three and one option.CHANGES COULD be ahead
for Australia’s community ser-
vices flight operators following
a Civil Aviation Safety Authority
discussion paper on safety
standards for such flights op-
erated on a voluntary basis.
Operators affected include
Angel Flight, which has con-
ducted more than 16,900
flights transporting people in
rural and remote Australia to
medical treatment. Some
2,800-plus volunteer pilots
conduct the flights in their own
aircraft, with more than 2,600
patients transferred since its
launch in 2003.
Last year, CASA released a
discussion paper proposing
10 options for future safety
management of the sector.
The options comprise adminis-
trative ones, namely do noth-
ing; status quo with passenger
safety briefing; additional pilot
training and checking require-
ments; implementation of a
volunteer community service
pilot registration system; use
of an approved self-administer-ing aviation organisation
(ASAAO); and conduct of
operations under an Air
Operator’s Certificate. Other
options involve operational
requirements, including flight-
crew licensing requirements;
aircraft operational limitations;
aircraft certification and main-
tenance requirements; and a
public education programme.CASA’s preferred option is
an ASAAO, followed by a pilot
registration system, with spe-
cific pilot experience and train-
ing requirements, operational
limitations and minimum air-
craft standards.
It acknowledges the vital
role performed by operators,
but says it must adopt a “regu-latory strategy that properly
balances consideration of the
safety risks inherent in a par-
ticular activity with rational ap-
proaches to the mitigation of
those risks”. The authority
also says it does not believe
the status quo “to be sound
safety regulation”.
Angel Flight chief executive
and founder Bill Bristow says
CASA’s preferred option is
“crippling red tape” that could
force the charity to shut down.
Bristow says Angel Flight’s
operational guidelines already
exceed the requirements of
private flight, with pilots re-
quired to have a minimum of
250h in command, fly a VH
registered aircraft and provide
proof of licence, ratings and
medical currency.
CASA says it received 65
responses to the DP, which it is
analysing. Once the analysis is
completed, CASA will again
consult with the community
service flight operators to
decide what changes, if any,
are appropriate.” ■COMMUNITY EMMA KELLY PERTH
VOLUNTEERS THREATENED BY NEW GUIDELINESits paces, recording 23,200 landings and
carrying 11,400 patients over 4.3 million nm
in the 2013/14 financial year.
Late last year, Queensland ordered two
new King Air 350C Heavy Weight aircraft,
which have a built-in air stair, large cargo
door, increased payload of 636kb (1,400lbs)
and long-range capability. The first is due for
delivery in April.
SELECTION
“Costs and efficiency are the driving force be-
hind our aircraft selection. We are particularly
interested in payload and range, which is why
we upgraded to the B350C,” says Queensland
Section, adding that it will most likely pur-
chase similar aircraft in the next few years.
RFDS Queensland, as well as Western Op-
erations, have previously evaluated the Piaggio
P180 Avanti II as a potential platform, with the
speed and cabin space of the high-speed turbo-
prop of particular interest. Piaggio Aero has
brought the aircraft to Australia a number of
times. RFDS Queensland does not confirm
whether it has discounted the Avanti, saying:
“We will continue to consider all aircraft op-
tions.” This could also include jets.
Central Operations has stuck with the
PC-12, currently operating 14, with a fifteenth
to be delivered in May. “The PC-12 satisfacto-
rily meets all of our current needs and no
wider evaluation is deemed necessary,” it says.
The fleet operates from three bases – Ade-
laide and Port Augusta, in South Australia, and
Alice Springs in the Northern Territory. Last
year, Central Operations transferred almost
4,500 patients through Adelaide – a 12% in-
crease on a decade ago. It is set to benefit from a
new A$13 million ($10 million) aeromedical
base at Adelaide Airport, with construction to
start this year.
In 2013/14, Central Operations flew 2.96
million nm; completed 15,600 landings at 176
locations; transported 8,920 patients; and con-
ducted 3,360 remote primary health clinics.
While the nature and profiles of the different
operations results in different operational
needs, Central Operations says it does work
jointly with Western Operations in their deal-
ings with Pilatus, as both operate PC-12s.
RFDS Western operates 18 PC-12s and one
Hawker 800XP, from Western Australia bases
at Jandakot (Perth), Kalgoorlie, Derby, Port
Hedland and Meekatharra. Construction on a
new base in Broome is due to start soon, fol-
lowing a 236% increase in demand for its ser-
vices in northern Western Australia over the
past five years. In 2013/14, the fleet made more
than 16,000 landings, flew 4 million nm and
carried almost 9,000 patients.
Western Operations, which serves the coun-
try’s largest state, is the only existing RFDS op-
erator of a jet. The 800XP has operated on criti-
cal care missions for the past three years as the❯❯
“CASA’s crippling
red tape could
force Angel Flights
to shut down”
BILL BRISTOW
Chief executive, Angel FlightsBeechcraft King Airs are favoured by many sections of Australia’s aeromedical service
RFDS