iscover
Noted at Oshkosh was the Rotor Mouse, a homebuilt ultralight helicopter powered by an AiResearch GTCP-36-55-C APU from an AH-64 Apache (with a TBO of 2000hrs)! The single seat Rotor Mouse has a cruise speed of 112kt (208km/h) and a gross weight of 450kg. Its inventor is now working on a similarly powered Rotorway helicopter.
Rotor Torque
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Careflight Govt Funding Cut
The NSW Department of Health plans to cut $460,000 from the $1.5m it funds CareFlight annually, as of June 30 next year, reports Peter Cush. The effect will be to cut adrift CareFlight’s 20 part time doctors from next July. The Department also wants to cut Sydney aeromedical services from three to two — one east and one west of the Hume Highway, and establish a new service for south east NSW and the ACT based in Canberra (refer separate item). NSW Health is calling for expressions of interest by September 20 in operating one, or all three services, after which limited tenders will be called. Open tenders may also be called for the Newcastle service. With the impending relocation of the Children’s Hospital to Westmead from Camperdown the previous Fahey State Government conducted a review of the State’s aeromedical retrieval services. The study recommended the retention of the Lismore and Newcastle services, but that the services in Sydney be cut from three (CareFlight, Child Flight and Westpac Lifesaver) to two, and that the savings from the closed service be applied to the establishment and operation of a service in southern NSW, based in Canberra. The review questioned the relevance of having two aeromedical services collocated at Westmead (CareFlight and Child Flight). CareFlight however contends that the two hospitals are separate entities and that the requirements for the transport of neonatal and paediatric cases are vastly different to those for road trauma, accident recovery, rescue and intensive care transfers that CareFlight performs. CareFlight has an annual budget of just over $5m, 26% of which is funded by the NSW Government. NRMA is the major corporate sponsor, but the majority of funds comes from public donations. Privately, senior Departmental officers are saying that the funding decision is all about control of the State’s aeromedical services. Other services operate with standby hospital medicos, while CareFlight trains and pays its own. CareFlight says that having a doctor online dramatically reduces response times. Health admits that CareFlight’s staff training levels exceed its standards and that the CareFlight operation is highly professional, but it is not under Department control.
Haa’s Permanent Office
The Helicopter Association of Australia now has its own office and full time staff with the move to a fully serviced office at the Parramatta Heliport. The new office will serve as a central location and focus for the HAA’s members, government bodies and other organisations to contact the Association. Will Stein, the NSW Branch Secretary for the past two years, has been appointed as the HAA’s Administrative Officer, to act as a central focus for communications with members and affiliate associations, coordinate correspondence and support the membership register. The office is open from 9am to 5pm and can be contacted on (02) 637 0944, or fax (02) 637 0944.
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