RAC Rescue was established as the state's only emergency rescue helicopter service in August 2003.
The emergency rescue helicopter service is managed by FESA, partly funded by the WA State Government with RAC as the principal sponsor and CHC Helicopters providing the helicopter and flight crew.
RAC Rescue provides vital search and rescue and critical care medical services to people 24 hours a day, every day of the year. The crew of RAC Rescue have saved hundreds of lives.
Based at Jandakot, the crew includes a pilot, air crew officer and St John Ambulance critical care paramedic. During critical hospital transfers a doctor may also be on board.
This vital air service transports critical care specialists to an incident and airlifts the injured to the most immediate or suitable hospital.
Since inception RAC Rescue has responded to a diverse range of significant emergencies throughout WA including responding to major traffic crashes, undertaking searches, and cliff and sea rescues.
The service has an operating range of between 200 and up to 250 kilometres from Perth with refueling stops.
This radius services 90 percent of Western Australia’s population and more than 2.1 million people.
Snapshot of RAC Rescue
- Is WA’s only emergency rescue helicopter service
- Is ready to respond twenty four hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year
- Is able to reach areas where road ambulances cannot and often halve response times
- Has a ‘primary’ mission to fly critical care specialists direct to an incident and then transports the injured directly to hospital
- Has a ‘secondary’ role to provide essential hospital transfers
- Responds to a wide range of emergencies across much of WA including traffic accidents, searches, and cliff and sea rescues
- Has an operating range of 200 kilometres from Perth, covering 90 percent of WA’s population
- RAC Rescue’s crew are based at Jandakot Airport, Perth
- Flights can be airborne in response to an incident within 15 minutes of receiving call
- RAC Rescue is managed by FESA and funded by the WA State Government and the RAC
- Undertakes ship to shore rescues including response to Emergency Position Radio Beacons (EPIRBs)
Technical specifications:
- RAC Rescue is a Bell 412 enhanced performance twin engine, four blade helicopter
- Has a maximum speed of 140 knots (260 kilometres per hour) and a cruising speed of 120 knots (222 kilometres per hour)
- Can fly approximately 500 kilometres without refuelling
- Has a maximum flying height of more than 4200 metres and the maximum take off weight is 5398 kilograms.
- Single pilot Instrument Flight Rules (IFR)
- AA three axis dual digital (AFCS) Automatic Flight Control System combined with flight director and coupled to the navigation system
- Engines are a PT6T-3DF twin-pac, producing 1800 Shaft Horse Power (shp)
- Rotor blades have a 14 metre diameter and 17.1 metre overall length.
RAC Rescue has been custom fit with specialist equipment including:
- Global Positioning System (GPS)
- Two stretchers and neonatal capacity
- EExternal winch/hoist system with a 250 foot / 76m cable (272 kilogram lift capacity)
- Nitesun search light with 30 million candle power
- Forward Looking Infrared Camera (FLIR)
Back to top
Funding and sponsorship
The cost of providing an emergency rescue helicopter service is significant but its value lies in saving lives and reducing patient trauma.
The service is managed by FESA and funded by the West Australian (WA) State Government and sponsored by the Royal Automobile Club (RAC) WA.
The WA State Government highly values the service and provides more than $5 million in funding annually. The remaining funding is sought through sponsorship.
In December 2003 the RAC became the sponsor of the service and the helicopter was officially named RAC Rescue.
Back to top
Accessing the service
While emergency search and rescue is the core business of RAC Rescue it can also be used by authorised emergency agencies and medical providers for other purposes, such as rapid deployment of personnel to emergencies.
Authorised agencies include:
- Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia (FESA) and all the emergency bodies FESA supports
- Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA)
- WWA Police (WAPOL)
Where appropriate, the emergency helicopter can also provide additional capability for other aerial services, such as air reconnaissance mission.
The primary role of RAC Rescue above all is preservation of life and this purpose takes precedence over any other type of missions.
Back to top
Community events and training exercises
RAC Rescue takes part in a limited number of community events and training exercises. As a general guide, there must be a benefit to the effectiveness or efficiency of the emergency rescue helicopter service.
To request RAC Rescue for a special event or training exercise, please download and complete an Event Request Form (PDF). For specifications on suitable landing sites and safety guidelines please read the Safety Procedures at Community Events (PDF).
Back to top
About the crew
RAC Rescue has the very best people involved and the latest state of the art equipment to back them up.
It is crewed by a pilot, rescue crew personnel and a St John Ambulance critical care paramedic. During critical hospital transfers a doctor may also be on board.
CHC Helicopters is contracted by FESA to provide the helicopter and flight crew. CHC Helicopters is the largest supplier of multiengine, emergency search and rescue, medical helicopter services in Australia.
RAC Rescue and the crew are based at Jandakot Airport, Perth and they can be airborne and on their way to an incident within 15 minutes of receiving a call.
Back to top
Image gallery
Back to top
Publications