Answering the call

A short history of Australia’s aeromedical capabilities

The outstanding retrieval work of the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS), other aeromedical operators and our rescue helicopter fleet is well known, and now well organised. This national capability has had a long gestation.

In 1948 newly formed East-West, equipped with VFR Avro Ansons, performed 12 transfers. Loading a stretcher – plus an attendant and equipment – into the seven-seat aircraft was a tight squeeze, and bad weather could see flights aborted. But over the next five years, Ansons and then larger and faster IFR-capable Lockheed Hudsons performed such flights regularly.