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Babcock Australasia has officially handed over a pair of new aeromedical helicopters to be used in the Torres Strait.
The Leonardo AW139 helicopters are set to replace two existing B412 aircraft and will operate from Babcock’s Horn Island base by the end of the year. Babcock, which won Rotary Wing Business of the Year at the 2024 Australian Aviation Awards, will also upgrade its hangar on Horn Island.
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The new helicopters will offer faster speeds and extended range, as well as better night search capabilities, higher weight capacity, climate control for improved comfort, and a power loader stretcher for smoother transfers. They also feature a unique “dragonfly” livery by Indigenous artist Alick Tipoti.
“As the Ministerial Champion for the Torres Strait, I am acutely aware of the challenges of providing health care in this beautiful, and extremely remote, part of Queensland,” said Queensland Minister for Health, Mental Health and Ambulance Services Shannon Fentiman.
“These brand-new helicopters will support our hardworking health heroes to safely transfer patients and deliver emergency health care in some of the most remote locations in the state.”
Babcock has provided 24/7 helicopter EMS for Queensland Health since 2007. According to Babcock Australasia CEO Andrew Cridland, the company last year transported almost 450 patients in Queensland, and aeromedical services are often the only way to get people in the Torres Strait to hospital.
“Babcock has served the Torres Strait community for more than 27 years, so we understand the often unpredictable and unforgiving conditions residents face in an emergency and how important it is to have a high-performing emergency helicopter service providing fast and quality healthcare,” said.
“These two state-of-the-art custom helicopters will allow our crews, and Queensland Health’s highly skilled medical staff, to safely undertake high-stakes rescue operations in this remote part of Australia.
“Our purpose at Babcock is to create a safe and secure world together and these upgraded services will further improve equitable access to healthcare for the people of the Torres Strait.”
Babcock is also offering a four-year Indigenous scholarship in either avionics or mechanical aeroskills, which will lead to a Licenced Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (LAME) accreditation. Applications are open via the Babcock website.
