Helicopters
The helicopter, with its rapid response time, point to point ability and fast cruise speed, is often the most efficient means of getting to and transporting patients.
CareFlight operates three helicopters. One, the Agusta Power (registration VH-IAG), is dedicated to the Head Injury Retrieval Trial based at Westmead. This helicopter reponds exclusively to incidents involving severely head-injured patients. The two BK-117s (VH-IME and VH-BIF) are deployed to northern Australia to provide aero-medical support to the Northern Territory Government and the Australian Defence Force. The BKs are also used for backup, training and search and rescue work. Each helicopter has a specially configured cabin which allows the medical team to monitor and treat the patient while in transit.
Agusta A109E Power
The Italian-built Agusta A109E 'Power' is powered by two gas-turbine engines, has a four-blade fully articulated main rotor, two-blade tail rotor and retractable tricycle undercarriage. With all weather, day/night capability and a night vision technology modified cockpit, the Power is a very capable single-pilot IFR helicopter.
Specifications:
- Engines: 2 x Pratt and Whitney Canada PW206C gas turbines, delivering 477kW (640 SHP) each
- Max speed 310 km/hr (168 knots)
- Cruising speed 285 km/hr (155 knots)
- Range 665 km (360 NM)
- Max altitude 6,096 m (20,000 ft)
- Endurance 2 hrs 10 mins
- Max weight 3,000 kg
- Crew 4 (pilot, aircrewman, doctor, paramedic)
- Fuel capacity 476 kg (605 L) Jet A-1 (refined kerosene)
- Fuel burn 220 kg/hr
- Total length 13 m
- Rotor diameter 11 m
Equipment:
- Weather radar
- 'Nite Sun' search light
- 2 x GPS navigation systems
- Laptop computer with GPS moving-map street navigation
- Dual autopilot
- Full Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) navigation suite: ILS, VOR, DME, NDB and RNAV
- 2 x VHF aviation radios
- Ambulance, police and multi-channel Wulfsberg radios
- 3G mobile phone
- Night Vision Goggles (NVG) compatible lighting and instrument systems
- NVGs for pilot and aircrewman
Kawasaki BK117 B2
The BK117-B2's are twin-engined day/night single-pilot (IME) and two-pilot (BIF) IFR helicopters. Each has a four-blade rigid main rotor, two-blade tail rotor and fixed skid-type undercarriage. With all weather, day/night capability and night vision technology modified cockpits, these helicopters are also equipped with rescue winches and are able to respond to a very diverse range of emergency medical and rescue situations. Their cabins are sufficiently spacious to carry two patients - one on a stretcher and one seated - and they have clam-shell rear doors for easy stretcher access.
Specifications:
- Engines: 2 x Lycoming LTS101 gas turbines, delivering 545 kW (730 SHP) each
- Max speed 278 km/hr (150 knots)
- Cruise speed 240 km/hr (130 knots)
- Range 474 km (256 NM)
- Max altitude 4,572 m (15,000ft)
- Endurance 2 hrs 10 mins
- Max weight 3,350 kg
- Crew 4 (pilot, aircrewman, doctor, paramedic)
- Fuel capacity 558 kg (698 L) Jet A-1 (refined kerosene)
- Fuel burn 225 kg/hr
- Total length 13 m
- Rotor diameter 11 m
Equipment:
- 2-man winch - lifting capacity 272 kg, cable length 82.3 m (270 ft), variable speed up to 76.2 m/min (250 ft/min)
- Weather radar (VH-IME only)
- Autopilot (VH-IME only)
- 'Starburst' SX-5 search light (15 million candle-power)
- GPS navigation system
- Laptop computer with GPS moving-map street navigation
- Full Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) navigation suite: ILS, VOR, DME, NDB and RNAV
- Ambulance, police and multi-channel Wulfsberg or Tait radios
- 3G mobile phone
- Night Vision Goggles (NVG) compatible lighting and instrument systems
- NVGs for pilot and aircrewman