- Today marks 20 years since the first RAC Rescue mission in 2003
- Aeromedical rescue service set to receive major fleet upgrade later this year
RAC Rescue is celebrating two decades of saving lives across Western Australia, having flown the equivalent of more than 50 trips around the globe since undertaking its first mission on 11 August 2003.
The flight crew has flown more than 9,500 missions across all corners of the State, including rescuing people during the Kimberley floods in January, performing aeromedical evacuations during bushfires in the South West and undertaking challenging sea rescues in the Great Australian Bight.
RAC Rescue is a free service to the community, funded by the State Government, sponsored by RAC and managed by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES).
It is WA’s only emergency rescue helicopter service, operating from two bases in Jandakot and Bunbury, to respond to calls for help 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
The demand for emergency air rescue has grown substantially since 2003, with the second base opened in Bunbury in 2016 and a third back-up helicopter introduced in 2018.
The milestone anniversary comes in the lead up to a significant fleet upgrade, with the State Government investing $26.7 million in three next-generation Leonardo AW139 rescue helicopters with increased flight range and some of the most advanced aviation rescue technology available.
As stated by Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson:
“The flight crew of RAC Rescue have protected Western Australians for two decades and the Cook Government is extremely proud of the men and women who keep this vital service in the sky.
“The ability to get urgent rescue capability and medical care on the ground and fast transport to Perth’s trauma centres has delivered better patient survival rates plus shorter hospital stays and rehabilitation times – but most importantly, thousands of loved ones are home safe today because of RAC Rescue.
“The Cook Government is excited to open a new chapter for RAC Rescue in 2023, with a major fleet revamp that will decrease response times and boost capability for this world-class rescue service.”
As stated by Emergency Services Commissioner Darren Klemm AFSM:
“The flight crews and team behind RAC Rescue are the top of their field in the rescue aeromedical industry, having the skills and equipment to perform a wide range of missions including sea and land rescues, road crash rescue, night searches, complex cliff and mountain range hoists and responding to industrial and farming accidents.
“RAC Rescue have proved vital at many significant emergencies in our State and the capability of the helicopters and crew are often the difference in emergency situations, not only in getting people to hospital faster but also reaching locations unreachable by foot, road or boat.
“Over the past 20 years DFES has been proud to operate RAC Rescue with its emergency services partners including CHC Helicopters, St John Ambulance, volunteer and career personnel, Australian Maritime and Safety Authority, and WA Police.”
RAC Rescue statistics (as of 30 June 2023):
- RAC Rescue has:
- Travelled 2,020,626 million km across Western Australia equal to travelling around the world 50.4 times
- Attended 4,903 road crash rescues
- Completed 994 search and rescues
- Transported 6,524 patients
- Spent 22,370 hours on missions, equal to 2.55 years or 932 days non-stop in the air
- Conducted 9,575 missions
