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The new aviation training academy, funded by the Australian government and delivered by Aviation Australia in Townsville, is set to play a key role in building Australia’s future Defence workforce, with the first cohort of 35 maintenance engineer trainees having begun their apprenticeships on Monday, 19 January.
The provider, a joint venture between LifeFlight and the Linfox Group, began operations in the state on Monday with an initial fleet of three Bell 412 helicopters. It marks the end of an era, with Rotor-Lift having operated the Westpac rescue and Ambulance Tasmania helicopters for around 25 years.
Rotor-Lift, which last year lost a lucrative Tasmanian emergency medical services contract to StarFlight, put its AOC up for sale late last year, with the page indicating expressions of interest were due by Christmas Day. It is as yet unknown if there has been any interest.
In April 2018, experienced pilot Philip O’Driscoll crashed his helicopter, a Bell UH-1H registered VH-HUE, during a lifting operation to move a large drill-rig in NSW’s Snowy Mountains.
The company, which will replace Rotor-Lift for aerial EMS in the state starting 12 January, says that most of its advertised pilot, air crew officer, and aircraft maintenance engineer positions have been filled by Rotor-Lift employees.
Under a $22.8 million investment over three years, the Sunshine Coast POLAIR base will be bolstered, with aerial operations to be extended into the Moreton Bay region. The base has seen 449 helicopter flights since January last year.
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