iscover
As part of a $24 million scheme to contain the pests, the government says its aerial control program will disperse two rounds of treatment across 106,000 hectares by mid-2026, with eradication treatments also to be delivered year-round rather than seasonally.
A Eurocopter AS350 (registration unknown), which was conducting agricultural spraying operations near Holbrook, NSW, on 3 September, hit a wire with its skids and lost control, crashing into the ground and catching fire; despite this, the pilot was able to get clear with only minor burns.
The Bell 206L-3 LongRanger helicopter VH-JMM was operating charter services in Arnhem Land on 14 July this year when it hit a white‑bellied sea eagle, which flew through the windscreen and caused serious upper body injuries to the passenger. The bird died on impact.
Black Hawk A25-112, originally produced by American defence company Sikorsky, was operated by the Australian Defence Force alongside other aircraft seeing operational service in Cambodia, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, East Timor and Pakistan.
The aircraft, which will perform missions for Ambulance Tasmania and Tasmania Police, are expected to enter service from late 2027, and will be based in Hobart. It comes as StarFlight prepares to take over the state’s EMS contract from existing provider Rotor-Lift.
Under the agreement, Babcock will deliver two new Airbus H145 D3 helicopters, equipped with advanced sensors, mission management systems, and long-range fuel tanks, enhancing surveillance and response capability in the strategically critical Torres Strait.
PROFILES
Raising the Bar in Commercial Laundry: How Rinse & Repeat Is Redefining Service for Aviation
Raising the Bar in Commercial Laundry: How Rinse & Repeat Is Redefining Service for Aviation
UPRT Australia- Transforming Aviation’s Greatest Risk into Its Greatest Asset
UPRT Australia- Transforming Aviation’s Greatest Risk into Its Greatest Asset
