Innovative Thinking

Health and safety concerns are driving new solutions

Will COVID-19 create a tiltrotor market in Australia? 

At present, medical services in remote tourist areas are adequate for most of the ‘Grey Nomads’ traditionally heading ‘out bush’, to the centre of Australia. The Royal Flying Doctor Service and other small jet aeromedical services are often tasked by small regional hospitals to take patients to a larger hospital with better trauma capabilities. Understandably, aeromedical helicopters suffering from the ‘tyranny of distance’ do not have enough fuel to handle long-range evacuation flights without refuelling en route.