One of Ambulance Victoria’s new King Air aircraft. Photo: Ambulance: Victoria
Toll Aviation has signed up to supply aircraft for Victorian and South Australian ambulance and police services.
Recently, four aircraft were added to Ambulance Victoria’s fleet and already taken to the skies.
Victoria’s Minister for Ambulance Services Mary-Anne Thomas visited Ambulance Victoria’s hangar at Essendon Airport to inspect the aircraft.
“Emergency care in Victoria is soaring to new heights with our four new high-tech planes …,” she says.
MP for Essendon Danny Pearson says where a patient lives is now even less of a barrier to urgent care than before.
Deputy Premier and MP for Niddrie Ben Carroll predicts the new aircraft will make “a real difference”.
Two Beechcraft King Air 260 and two King Air 360 aircraft join the fleet’s five helicopters.
The King Airs replaced a previous fleet as part of a $345 million 12-year partnership with Toll Aviation (who acquired former operator Pel-Air).
They are fitted with an advanced mechanical stretcher loading system that can reduce transfer times by up to 20 minutes.
Ambulance Victoria says the planes also feature a pilot fatigue detection system (PFDS) which alerts the crew if the pilot is showing early signs of fatigue.
With a maximum range of 3185 kilometres and a top speed of 574km/h, the planes can fly into New South Wales and to Tasmania.
Two fixed-wing aircraft will operate 24/7 with a third aircraft flying for 16 hours a day, five days a week; the fourth acts as a support aircraft, used when one of the other aircraft is undergoing maintenance.
SA DEAL
Toll Aviation also recently signed a 15-year deal with the South Australian Government to provide eight aircraft, fixed wing and helicopter.
The company said the contract is to provide police, ambulance and rescue services to South Australia.
Toll Aviation general manager Colin Gunn says their aircraft will strengthen the state’s emergency response and law enforcement teams.
The fixed-wing are due to be operational in November 2026 with full operation of the helicopters in October 2027.
THE FLEET
South Australia Police: Two Bell 429 helicopters capable of speeds up to 287 km/h with a range of 593 km; two fixed-wing aircraft for policing, search and rescue operations.
SA Ambulance Service Three AW139 helicopters capable of speeds up to 309 km/h and a range of 698 km with custom-built medical cabin for intensive care; one fixed-wing PC12 aircraft with an intensive medical care interior.
