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Toll Aviation has signed a 15-year, $870 million contract to provide emergency services to the South Australian government.
The agreement, which will last until 2039, will see Toll provide a total of eight aircraft for police, search and rescue, and aeromedical services in the state, including three fixed-wing planes and five helicopters.
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“We are extremely honoured to provide critical aviation services that strengthen the state’s emergency response and law enforcement teams and ensure the highest standards quality and safety of the services that South Australians need and deserve,” Colin Gunn, general manager of Toll Aviation, said.
SA Police will receive two Bell 429 helicopters plus a Pilatus PC-12 and a Cessna 208EX, while the South Australia Ambulance Service (SAAS) MedSTAR fleet will receive three Leonardo AW139 helicopters plus a Royal Flying Doctor Service Pilatus PC-12.
Dr Andrew Pearce, retrieval divisional clinical director for SAAS MedSTAR, said the fleet would help in medical emergencies when “every second counts”.
“Distance, speed, climate control and payload are all important improvements to our aeromedical service,” Pearce said.
“The addition of the PC-12 fixed-wing aircraft will reduce our time to become airborne by half and will enable us to cover greater distances more quickly.
“By expanding our fleet, we will be better equipped to meet the growing demand of aeromedical services in South Australia. This boost will make a real difference to those who need life-saving emergency care and hospital transfers.”
Initial operational capability for fixed-wing services is slated to begin in November 2026, with full operational capability for rotary-wing services expected in October 2027.
Alan Beacham, managing director of Toll Group, said Toll will also partner with subcontractors including Royal Flying Doctor Service (South Australia and Northern Territory) and Gunggandji Aerospace through the Indigenous Defence & Infrastructure Consortium (iDiC).
“Drawing on over 20 years of experience within the aviation space, combined with the expertise and capability of our subcontractors, we are confident that these partnerships will deliver unparalleled service to ensure timely and effective support when it matters most,” he said.
Toll Aviation last year purchased Rex’s aeromedical arm Pel-Air, including its valuable fixed-wing air ambulance contracts, in a $47.1 million deal.
Toll, owned by Japan Post, already operates helicopter air ambulance services for NSW and the ACT, with the confirmation of the previously rumoured acquisition adding NSW and Victoria’s fixed-wing services to its stable.
