New helicopter to boost emergency response
Published Wednesday, 24 October, 2007 at 04:04 PM
JOINT STATEMENT
Minister for Emergency Services
The Honourable Neil Roberts
Premier
The Honourable Anna Bligh
24 October 2007
The first of three new state-of-the-art helicopters purchased by the State Government for aeromedical, search and rescue services was unveiled today.
Premier Anna Bligh said the Government had invested $48.3 million over three years for three new Agusta Westland (AW) 139 helicopters to upgrade Emergency Management Queensland Rescue’s current fleet.
“The helicopters will based in Brisbane, Townsville and Cairns,” she said.
“Each helicopter will boast a 30% increase in range and a 20% increase in speed than the helicopter it will replace.”
“When configured for EMQ Helicopter Rescue, the AW 139 helicopters will have a single flight endurance of three hours, giving it an operational range of 870 kilometres, flying at 290km per hour.”
“For patients this means that nearly 25 minutes can be slashed off a two-hour retrieval mission, significantly improving medical care. In emergencies, every extra minute saved is critical.”
"Its autohover capacity will allow winch retrievals over water at night time, which is currently not possible with the existing fleet.”
“With the use of night-vision goggles, the AW 139 helicopter will give Queensland the most advanced aeromedical helicopter rescue fleet in the country,” she said.
The three AW 139 aircraft purchased by the Government will replace the current Bell 412 fleet.
Ms Bligh and Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts inspected the new helicopter emerging from its re-assembly bay at Archerfield.
Mr Roberts said the aircraft was the first to arrive in Australia and the first of three to service Queensland.
“Once the safety checks and testing are complete the aircraft will be accepted by EMQ and the final stage of training and familiarisation for rescue crews will take place,” Mr Roberts said.
“When fully operational, this aircraft will greatly boost search and rescue and aeromedical patient transfer in this state, providing EMQ Rescue with a greater flight range and speed.”
“The new medium-sized twin engine helicopter is capable of carrying up to 2000 kg of useful load, plus a vastly improved cabin design and technology upgrades for pilots, crews and medical staff.”
The other two helicopters are expected to arrive from Italy next year. They will be located at EMQ Rescue bases at Townsville and Cairns.
The AW 139 helicopter is manufactured in Italy. To date, seven EMQ pilots and two engineers have undertaken training with AW 139 helicopters in Italy.
EMQ Rescue remains one of Australia’s busiest emergency helicopter networks with in excess of 2500 hours annually including search and rescue (over land and sea), primary medical response, hospital patient transfers and evacuations.
Test flights of the AW 139 helicopter will start following certification from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.
Media contact: Minister’s Office 3247 8190
The first of three new state-of-the-art helicopters purchased by the State Government for aeromedical, search and rescue services was unveiled today.
Premier Anna Bligh said the Government had invested $48.3 million over three years for three new Agusta Westland (AW) 139 helicopters to upgrade Emergency Management Queensland Rescue’s current fleet.
“The helicopters will based in Brisbane, Townsville and Cairns,” she said.
“Each helicopter will boast a 30% increase in range and a 20% increase in speed than the helicopter it will replace.”
“When configured for EMQ Helicopter Rescue, the AW 139 helicopters will have a single flight endurance of three hours, giving it an operational range of 870 kilometres, flying at 290km per hour.”
“For patients this means that nearly 25 minutes can be slashed off a two-hour retrieval mission, significantly improving medical care. In emergencies, every extra minute saved is critical.”
"Its autohover capacity will allow winch retrievals over water at night time, which is currently not possible with the existing fleet.”
“With the use of night-vision goggles, the AW 139 helicopter will give Queensland the most advanced aeromedical helicopter rescue fleet in the country,” she said.
The three AW 139 aircraft purchased by the Government will replace the current Bell 412 fleet.
Ms Bligh and Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts inspected the new helicopter emerging from its re-assembly bay at Archerfield.
Mr Roberts said the aircraft was the first to arrive in Australia and the first of three to service Queensland.
“Once the safety checks and testing are complete the aircraft will be accepted by EMQ and the final stage of training and familiarisation for rescue crews will take place,” Mr Roberts said.
“When fully operational, this aircraft will greatly boost search and rescue and aeromedical patient transfer in this state, providing EMQ Rescue with a greater flight range and speed.”
“The new medium-sized twin engine helicopter is capable of carrying up to 2000 kg of useful load, plus a vastly improved cabin design and technology upgrades for pilots, crews and medical staff.”
The other two helicopters are expected to arrive from Italy next year. They will be located at EMQ Rescue bases at Townsville and Cairns.
The AW 139 helicopter is manufactured in Italy. To date, seven EMQ pilots and two engineers have undertaken training with AW 139 helicopters in Italy.
EMQ Rescue remains one of Australia’s busiest emergency helicopter networks with in excess of 2500 hours annually including search and rescue (over land and sea), primary medical response, hospital patient transfers and evacuations.
Test flights of the AW 139 helicopter will start following certification from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.
Media contact: Minister’s Office 3247 8190