Our Aircraft-Queensland Section
The RFDS (Queensland Section) has a fleet of 20 aircraft including 4 Beechcraft King Air B200Cs, 9 Beechcraft King Air B200s, 2 Beechcraft Super King Air B200s, 3 Pilatus PC-12s and 2 Cessna Grand Caravan C208's.
The Beechcraft, which is mainly used for emergency retrieval work is capable of speeds of up to 500 kilometres per hour and a range of 1500 km, with a pilot, medical team and two patients on board.
In 2002, three Pilatus PC-12’s were introduced into the Service. The Pilatus is of a similar size to the Beechcraft, is capable of nearly 500km/hr, has a range comparable to the Beechcraft and is significantly cheaper to operate.
These aircraft are pressurised, enabling patients to be flown in at the equivalent of sea level - an essential requirement in the treatment of many serious injuries. A neonatal unit can also be carried for emergency care of babies.
In 2010, two Cessna Grand Caravan C208's were introduced to the RFDS Cairns Base for transporting our Primary Health Care staff to rural and remote communities of the Cape York region, allowing us to deliver a greater diversity of Primary Health Care services to these communities.