Essendon Base
Take off!
The RFDS base at Essendon began operations in September 1998.
Our mission
- to provide pilots, aircraft and engineering support to assist in the vital emergency work of Air Ambulance Victoria
- to support RFDS operations in rural and remote regions of South Eastern Australia with surplus funds from the Air Ambulance contract
- to operate the Rural Women’s GP Service (RWGPS) in 36 clinics across the SE Section offering better access for rural women to female GPs
- to provide emergency and routine transfers for the people of Victoria who have fallen ill far away from home
- to manage the RFDS Aviation Department
Fast facts
- we operate four King Air B200 aircraft
- our aviation team consists of an Aviation Manager, Flight Operations Manager, Engineering Manager and Maintenance Controller
- 16 pilots, two engineers and two administration staff make up the team which supports Air Ambulance Victoria
2006-2007 Mission accomplished!
- 4,464 patients assisted
- 1,196 female patients attended by the RWGPS
- 114 clinics conducted by the RWGPS
- 4,464 inter-hospital transfers carried out
- 1,540,082 kms flown
- 6,896 landings executed