RACQ CQ celebrates record year

RACQ CQ Rescue, which serves Queensland, Australia, is ending 2016 on a high, announcing that it has completed a record number of missions this year. Its Mackay-based rescue helicopter racked up 542 tasks between January and November 2016, making a combined 900 hours flying time. It’s a significant increase on last year’s 518 tasks. The service did the maths, and worked out this means the helicopter completed 1.5 tasks a day in 2016.

The year in general has been special for RACQ CQ Rescue, with the service celebrating both 20 years of service and 7,000 completed missions. It was also the busiest single-base rescue helicopter servicing regional Queensland.

Chris Wright, RACQ CQ Rescue board chairman, was pleased with the achievement: “These statistics clearly indicate both the demand for and the incredible level of service our community-funded rescue helicopter consistently delivers to people in this community and beyond.”

Greg Webb, RACQ CQ Rescue base manager and pilot added: “It’s been a really phenomenal feeling to know that the service has touched a record number of people this year and that we’ve been the difference between life and death on hundreds of occasions.”

The operator broke down the missions, stating that 25 of the missions were for search and rescue, and 33 involved motor vehicle accidents. Cardiac conditions, workplace injuries and serious falls were other reasons the helicopter had to be called out.

Wright also looks forward to the new year: “With a new CEO to be appointed in the New Year, 2017 promises to be another year of challenges and even greater triumphs for the team at RACQ CQ Rescue.”