Business AviationFirst aeromedical PC-12 PRO delivered to Royal Flying Doctor Service
Pilatus has delivered the world’s first PC-12 PRO configured for aeromedical operations to the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia (RFDS), with serial number 3010 arriving in the country this week.
The aircraft is the first of five new PC-12 PRO turboprops scheduled for delivery to RFDS Central Operations. The service has operated earlier PC-12 variants for more than three decades.
Configured for medical transport missions, the aircraft will operate across South Australia and the Northern Territory, supporting patient transfers in remote regions.
The pressurized cabin, measuring more than nine cubic meters, is configured to accommodate patients, medical crew and specialized equipment. A large cargo door and integrated lift system are designed to facilitate stretcher loading.
“The PC-12 has an outstanding safety record, and a proven history of reliability operating in the diverse and challenging environments where we deliver services, from southern Australia to the tropics in the Top End. It will strengthen our fleet reliability and our ability to respond quickly, safely and efficiently”, said RFDS SA/NT Chief Executive Tony Vaughan ASM.
The PC-12 PRO is the latest evolution of the PC-12 family and incorporates the Garmin 3000 avionics suite along with additional safety features, including an automated emergency landing system. The aircraft retains short- and unpaved-runway performance, a key requirement for operations in remote areas.
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More than 2,200 PC-12 aircraft have been delivered worldwide, accumulating over 12 million flight hours. The new PRO variant expands the type’s presence in the aeromedical sector, where the PC-12 has long been used for air ambulance missions.
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