CareFlight International Air Ambulance
Encyclopedia
CareFlight International Air Ambulance is an Australian registered charity that operates air ambulance
s and specialist medical teams to patients anywhere in the world. The organisation was incorporated in 1986 when its first helicopter, a Squirrel AS350B was commissioned. Helicopter operations are based on the grounds of Westmead Hospital
in Sydney, while fixed-wing aircraft are chartered from Pel-Air
. The current helicopter fleet consists of an Agusta A109E Power at Westmead Hospital and two Kawasaski BK-117s based in the Northern Territory
.
The company operates from Sydney
, Darwin
, Perth
and Cairns.
operated by Pel-Air ditched near Norfolk Island after running out of fuel during an ambulance flight. The aircraft had been unable to land because of inclement weather, and did not carry sufficient fuel to divert to an alternate airport. All six crew and passengers were rescued from the sea after 90 minutes.
Air ambulance
An air ambulance is an aircraft used for emergency medical assistance in situations where either a traditional ambulance cannot reach the scene easily or quickly enough, or the patient needs to be transported over a distance or terrain that makes air transportation the most practical transport....
s and specialist medical teams to patients anywhere in the world. The organisation was incorporated in 1986 when its first helicopter, a Squirrel AS350B was commissioned. Helicopter operations are based on the grounds of Westmead Hospital
Westmead Hospital
Westmead Hospital is a major 975 bed tertiary hospital in Sydney, Australia, opened on 10 November 1978 by the then Premier, Neville Wran, and guest of honour was former Prime Minister Gough Whitlam...
in Sydney, while fixed-wing aircraft are chartered from Pel-Air
Pel-Air
Pel-Air Aviation Pty Ltd is an airline based in Mascot, Sydney, Australia. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Regional Express Holdings, which also owns Australian airlines Regional Express Airlines and Air Link....
. The current helicopter fleet consists of an Agusta A109E Power at Westmead Hospital and two Kawasaski BK-117s based in the Northern Territory
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
.
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Darwin
Darwin, Northern Territory
Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. Situated on the Timor Sea, Darwin has a population of 127,500, making it by far the largest and most populated city in the sparsely populated Northern Territory, but the least populous of all Australia's capital cities...
, Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
and Cairns.
Incidents and accidents
On 18 November 2009, a Westwind IIAIAI Westwind
|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Frawley, Gerald. "IAI Westwind". The International Directory of Civil Aircraft 1997/98. Fyshwick ACT: Aerospace Publications, 1997. ISBN 1-875671-26-9....
operated by Pel-Air ditched near Norfolk Island after running out of fuel during an ambulance flight. The aircraft had been unable to land because of inclement weather, and did not carry sufficient fuel to divert to an alternate airport. All six crew and passengers were rescued from the sea after 90 minutes.
See also
- Royal Flying Doctor Service of AustraliaRoyal Flying Doctor Service of AustraliaThe Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia is an emergency and primary health care service for those living in rural, remote and regional areas of Australia...
- Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter ServiceWestpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter ServiceThe Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Service was founded in 1973 by Surf Life Saving Australia. Since this time, the Service has carried out more than 50,000 flights ranging from patient transfers to search and rescue missions...
- Angel FlightAngel FlightAngel Flight is the name used by a number of groups whose members provide free transportation for needy patients and perform other missions of community service...