In March 2017, under the new contract with the NSW Government through NSW Health and NSW Ambulance, the Service commenced flying operations in new AW139 helicopters.

The AW139 is the gold standard for aeromedical operations worldwide as it surpasses other medium twin-engine helicopters in operational range, performance and safety.

Since their introduction, the Service’s operational capability and patient care has greatly improved. Our aircraft can be described as a Flying Intensive Care Unit, carrying specialised equipment and search & rescue capability.

Providing advanced medical support in challenging environments, the AW139s support the Critical Care Medical Team so they can provide complex treatment and stabilisation of patients on the scene prior to transport and continuing in flight.

On board we carry two stretchers, paediatric patient transport equipment, bariatric patient transport equipment, neonatal incubator, airway management equipment, haemorrhage control equipment, plasma and blood, anti-venom, pharmacology, defibrillator, portable ultrasound and a ventilator, which allows the medical crew to deliver advanced life support.

Our aircraft is fully equipped to handle multiple scenarios over land and see without the need to return to base. This means we carry additional specialist rescue equipment including a water rescue strop, child rescue valise, winch rescue basket stretcher, and more.

Today, we operate five AW139 helicopters from three forward operating bases in Belmont, Tamworth, and Lismore. The service supports NSW Ambulance and NSW Health to deliver aeromedical pre-hospital support, search and rescue and inter-hospital transfers in our community from north of the Hawkesbury River through to the Queensland border and throughout the New England North West.