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The Royal Flying Doctor Service Central Operations has officially launched its fifth and final new Pilatus PC-12 aeromedical aircraft acquired under the Adelaide based division of the RFDS’s largest single aircraft replacement program.
In service for three months, PC-12 VH-FVF was officially named in honour of retiring RFDS Central Operations board member Barry Lodge in a ceremony at the RFDS Adelaide Base on April 15.
“Foxtrot-Victor-Foxtrot is the fifth of five state-of-the-art flying intensive care units to be introduced to the Central Operations fleet over the past year at a total capital expenditure of $30 million,” said John Lynch, CEO of RFDS Central Operations.
“The purchase of the five aircraft has been possible by a combination of capital grants from the Commonwealth and SA governments, corporate sponsors and donations from members of the community, and we acknowledge their generosity, commitment and support of the Royal Flying Doctor Service.”
The five new PC-12s replaced five older PC-12s, each of which had flown over 15,000 flight hours during their 15 year RFDS careers. They were acquired with the aid of $13.2 million in federal and $6 million in state government funding.
Central Operations operates 11 PC-12s from its Adelaide, Port Augusta and Alice Springs bases.
