South Australians will soon be cared for 24/7 by the state's first permanently configured aeromedical jet following the purchase of a state-of-the-art Pilatus PC-24 aircraft by the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS).
The RFDS aeromedical jet will almost halve the flying time of long-haul patient evacuations, as well as provide the capacity to transfer three stretchered patients and clinical staff from Adelaide to any capital city in Australia without refuelling.
"The RFDS PC-24 will enable the RFDS to reach patients in need in all corners of the state in less than 90 minutes, including major regional cities like Mt Gambier in just 30 minutes and Moomba in the Cooper Basin in 60 minutes," said RFDS central operations chief executive officer John Lynch.
"The RFDS PC-24 will also be on standby 24/7 for the emergency transfer of patients from Adelaide interstate for life-saving surgery such organ transplant and cardiac surgery on newborn babies - missions required of the RFDS on a weekly basis."
To be manufactured in Switzerland, the $10 million medically-equipped jet is scheduled for delivery in 2017/18.
RFDS central operations has exercised its "launch customer" option to secure one Pilatus PC-24 jet aircraft, and has retained the option to secure a second due for delivery in 2018/19.
In SA alone, the RFDS conducts an average of 15 aeromedical flights every day.
RFDS central operations has utilised the Pilatus PC-12 turboprop aircraft exclusively for it operations in South Australia and the Northern Territory since 1995 - it will continue to operate its four medically-equipped PC-12 aircraft in Adelaide, three in Port Augusta and four in Alice Springs.
The market release of the new state-of-the-art Pilatus PC-24 jet will prove a 'game changer' for the Flying Doctor according to Mr Lynch.
"The new PC-24 has the versatility and practicality of the PC-12 with the cabin capacity and high performance of a jet," Mr Lynch said.
"It is certified for our single-pilot operation, and is designed to take-off and land on the harsh dirt airstrips we face in the outback."
SA Minister for Health Jack Snelling said the state government applauded the RFDS' leadership and on-going investment in the health and well-being of all South Australians - city and country alike.
"The RFDS aeromedical jet will be the only permanently configured aeromedical jet in South Australia with the capacity to carry three stretcher patients and up to three clinical staff at once," Mr Snelling said.
"Addition of the RFDS PC-24 to the state's disaster response resources will enhance SA's capacity to respond quickly and effectively to mass casualty incidents.
"The RFDS is a key partner in our state's best practice service model for retrieval and inter-hospital patient transfer services that delivers the right people with the right skill-set to the right patients at the right time."
The purchase of the RFDS PC-24 will be funded by fundraising and donations as part of the RFDS' on-going capital-raising program for the replacement of aircraft, medical equipment and upgrades to its operational facilities.
Its operational costs will be incorporated into the RFDS' contract with the SA Government for provision of fixed-wing inter-hospital transfer and aeromedical retrieval services in SA.
Source: Roxby Downs Sun
