Babcock awarded new Queensland contract
The company will introduce two new Leonardo AW139 helicopters to operate the service under the new agreement
Helicopter services provider Babcock International has been awarded a $288 million 12-year contract by the state government of Queensland to provide helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) and search and rescue (SAR) support in the Torres Strait.
The contract extends a 15-year partnership between Babcock and the Queensland government, and builds on the company’s strong experience working in the state.
“Babcock has operated in the Torres Strait and Northern Peninsula regions for more than 27 years,” said Peter Newington, Babcock’s Managing Director of Aviation and Critical Services for Australia. “Our experience in the region gives us a unique understanding of the tasks and their interaction with the challenging environment due to the cluster of small islands, and ever-changing weather conditions.”
The Torres Strait is a body of water that lies between Australia’s northern coast and the southern coast of Papua New Guinea. At its narrowest extent, it is 150km wide. The strait is home to a number of small islands, and is used as a route for international shipping. Consequently, the area has a high demand for both HEMS and aerial SAR.
Two new helicopters
Under the new contract, Babcock will supply two new AW139 helicopters in aeromedical configuration. The aircraft will also be fitted with winches and Wescam MX-15 electro-optical/infrared cameras.
It is hoped that the new rotorcraft will offer longer range and higher speeds than the aircraft they replace. The aircraft will operate a 24/7 service from a base in Horn Island, and will also be available to support operations by other government departments such as Queensland Police and Queensland Fire and Emergency Services.
Babcock stated that it also plans to increase its commitment to local communities under the new agreement.
“We will be taking a more strategic and targeted approach to deliver opportunities for local business growth, support for the local Indigenous and Torres Strait community, and positive outcomes for Queensland and its residents,” said Newington.
Babcock offloaded much of its European emergency helicopter operations earlier this year, but continues to operate such operations in other parts of the world.