Side by side, the two PC-24s for New South Wales Air Ambulance (NSWAA) have passed the final steps in production and customisation for operation as air ambulance aircraft.
For the past 30 years, Pilatus has manufactured and delivered aircraft to some of the most widely recognised and prestigious aeromedical operators around the world. Customers such as the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) in Australia, Ornge in Canada and Kommunalförbundet Svenskt Ambulansflyg (KSA) in Sweden all operate Pilatus aircraft 24/7 in some of the most inhospitable terrain, and in extreme temperatures. It is this pedigree as well as Pilatus’ reputation for attention to detail, quality manufacturing and award-winning customer support that attracts the attention of aeromedical operators looking to enhance their air ambulance capabilities. These factors combined with the large dedicated patient door, increased cabin volume and flat floor are just some of the reasons why NSWAA in Australia selected the PC-24.
New South Wales Ambulance goes back 128 years. It started life in Sydney, in 1895, as the community based Civil Ambulance and Transport Brigade. In its humble beginnings the Civil Ambulance was based at a police station and staffed by two permanent officers who transported patients on stretchers. In 1899, the Civil Ambulance was one of the first to operate a horse-drawn ambulance and similarly one of the first to use a motor vehicle for patient transfers from 1912.
Today, NSWA employs over 6,100 staff including nearly 5,000 paramedics across 220 locations throughout the state of New South Wales. All operations are coordinated by one Clinical Operations Centre and five separate Control Centres. The Clinical Operations Centre works closely with hospitals and other health providers throughout NSW to ensure that staff and medical resources are directed to where they are most needed either by road, helicopter or aircraft.
With a population of over eight million people, New South Wales has the largest population of all the states and a land mass that is 19 times larger than Switzerland. After 72 years of road transport, New South Wales Air Ambulance (NSWAA) made their inaugural flight in 1967 in a Queen Air aircraft that was substantially modified for aeromedical missions. This aircraft was operated by NSWAA for 18 years, transporting over 32,000 patients during this time.
In time, NSWAA replaced the Queen Airs bringing pressurisation and turbine fixed wing operations to their fleet. NSWAA currently operates a fleet of five aeromedical equipped B200 King Air aircraft from its base at Mascot, Sydney Airport. Complementing their fixed wing capabilities, NSWAA commenced rotary wing operations in 1983 with five AW139s and two EC145s. The rotary wing fleet was further updated in 2017 when twelve AW139 helicopters went into service across seven bases throughout NSW.
In 2023, NSWAA will take delivery of two brand new, state-of-the art PC-24s to further increase the organisation’s operational capabilities. The two PC-24s will lead in the jet age for aeromedical operations within NSWAA. This next step in the evolution of NSWAA capabilities promises to bring faster patient transfers both within New South Wales and other states. With decades of aeromedical experience, NSWAA knew exactly what functionality and capability they required from the PC-24 and worked closely with Pilatus on the development and design aspects. The aircraft were specially modified with a customised aeromedical interior produced by Aerolite and Pilatus in Switzerland. Additional equipment and minor modifications will be installed in Australia by Total Aeronautical Solutions (TAS).
