Helicopter announcement

Graphic: Helicopter announcement

An Australian first for WA's Flying Doctor

Date published

30 Mar 2021

Royal Flying Doctor Service (Western Operations) Board Chair, Mr Sam Walsh AO has announced that two helicopters will join our fleet in an Australian first for the RFDS.

This exciting expansion of our service will give RFDS crews greater flexibility and capability to respond quickly to each patient’s inter-hospital transfer needs with the most appropriate aircraft and medical care. 

We look forward to working with the WA Government, WA Country Health Service, the business community and our service partners to integrate the helicopters into our operations by the end of the year.

This innovation delivers on the commitments made in our 2020 Strategic Direction: The Next Century to be the State’s premier patient retrieval service and keep improving health equity for all Western Australians, regardless of where they live or work. 

This is an essential step forward if the RFDS is to meet the increasingly complex health needs of regional, remote and very remote communities.

We look forward to keeping you updated.

Image caption: Front row (L-R)
RFDS WO Board Chair Sam Walsh AO, WA Minister for Health The Hon Roger Cook and CEO Rebecca Tomkinson celebrate the announcement with WA Flying Doctor crews.