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Beechcraft King Air 350C Heavy Weight aircraft have received their first orders in Australia after the Queensland section of The Royal Australian Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) signed for two airframes.
Hawker Pacific, which distributes Beechcraft aircraft in Australia and New Zealand, said the RFDS King Air 350C would be used for emergency retrieval services and patient transfers across Queensland.
Moreover, Hawker Pacific’s vice president of aircraft sales Nick Jones said the aircraft’s range would allow the RFDS to fly from Cairns to Brisbane without refuelling, which saved time and improved patient comfort.
“The long range and significantly enhanced payload capability of the King Air 350C will provide the RFDS flexibility within their aeromedical missions that are unique and very well-suited, considering the vast distances and remote airfields their operation necessitates,” Jones said in a statement.
The two aircraft will undergo a full medical fit-out once delivered before starting work with the RFDS.
RFDS Queensland section chief executive Nino Di Marco said the extended range and 1,400-pound payload of the King Air 350Cs would offer the long-term cost savings for the not-for-profit organisation.
“The new additions to our fleet of Beechcraft aircraft will be immensely beneficial to our patients both in terms of their comfort and the timeliness of our operations,” he said.
The official signing ceremony took place in Brisbane on Thursday.
