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Babcock’s AW139 fleet has exceeded 20,000 flying hours with Ambulance Victoria five years after entering service.
Since 2016, the business has supplied five of the Leonardo aircraft to support the state’s Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) operations, operating from bases including Essendon, La Trobe Valley, Bendigo and Warrnambool.
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Babcock estimated it flies more than 2,700 emergency missions each year across Victoria and the Bass Strait.
Chief pilot Captain Tom House said, “Babcock delivers mission-critical emergency medical services (EMS) and search and rescue (SAR) operations 365 days a year within on-call rapid response times.
“We also provide qualification training to pilots, aircrew and engineers as well as specialist aeromedical training to Ambulance Victoria’s Mobile Intensive Care Ambulance (MICA) Flight Paramedics.
“Babcock pilots and aircrew officers work in a close-knit team with MICA paramedics, which is critical when conducting operations at short notice at all hours of the day and night, often in challenging weather conditions and involving traumatic circumstances.
“As a result, there is a high level of professional respect between the crew members and a close bond forged by shared experiences.”
The news comes months after Babcock announced late last year it had extended contracts with both the Queensland and South Australian governments.
Babcock will provide the Queensland government with emergency helicopter medical services for a further three years and, as part of the deal, supply a second Bell 412 for operation that will be based at Horn Island Airport.
The deal will also see improved access to emergency medical services for communities in the Torres Strait and Northern Peninsula regions.
It also extended its its rotary-wing contract with the South Australian government until October 2022.
The agreement means the business will continue to deliver emergency medical, search and rescue, and law enforcement services to the state’s Helicopter Rescue Service.
As part of the deal, a new Bell 412 will operate from Adelaide Airport, replacing an EC130.
Babcock is an international provider of engineering services to the defence, emergency services, and oil and gas sectors. Its Australasia division employs more than 1,100 people.
