Extra PC-12 propeller boosts performance for the RFDS fleet
The Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) in Western Australia is boosting the performance of its PC-12 turboprop aircraft fleet by reconfiguring and modernizing its propeller system
The conversion from aluminum four-blade propellers to five-blade propellers made from carbon fiber composite is a first for RFDS aircraft anywhere across Australia.
The Pilatus-built PC-12 turboprop aircraft was repurposed to serve as a flying Intensive Care Unit and introduced into Western Australian skies by the RFDS in 2001.
RFDS Head of Engineering Andy Lewis said the new propeller system will maximize aircraft performance and increase patient comfort with less vibration to be expected during flights.
“The new propellers are lighter, stronger, require less maintenance and provide more torque, which enables the aircraft to fly better, and ultimately saves on fuel,” he said.
RFDS Western Operations has an in-house team of avionics and airframe engineers, technical record keepers, maintenance planners and logistics experts based at Jandakot, who ensure its fleet is maintained to the highest standard.
The team is responsible for the maintenance of every part on every aircraft. Since last year, the RFDS retrieved and provided in-flight medical care to 9,012 patients across Western Australia. That’s about 25 men, women and children flown to safety each day.