Caring for Territorians >
When our Alice Springs Base officially opened for operation in August 1939, there was a plane, a pilot, a radio and a doctor.
These days, with more than 90 staff working at two bases in Alice Springs and Darwin, the RFDS airlifts more than 2,500 Territorians every year, and has 10 purpose-built Pilatus aircraft, ready to respond 24/7 – all 100 per cent locally serviced and maintained.
We bring the finest care to someone in the Territory every 20 minutes:
Airlifting the critically-ill or injured to Darwin and Alice Springs Hospitals.
Returning Top End patients to community following medical treatment in Darwin.
Caring for a local at our Patient Transfer Facility at Tennant Creek Airport.
Brightening smiles through our Oral Health Program delivered in East Arnhem and across Central Australia.
Supporting wellbeing in schoolyards and stockyards with mental health engagements.
Flying NT Health workers to remote communities to deliver specialist and primary health care.
And, we employ dedicated locals and grow the next generation of Territory doctors, nurses, pilots, engineers and first responders through education, training and apprenticeships.
We’re proud to be true Territorians.
Your health is our Territory.
Our fleet >
Pilatus PC-12
22 aircraft in SA/NT
The PC-12 is the ultimate all-rounder in terms of capacity, amenity, speed, range and performance – making it perfect for RFDS operational activities.
From outback strips to city airports, the PC-12 has operated day and night for more than 25 years to keep the RFDS in the air.
The cockpit is configured for single-pilot operations in all weather conditions, day and night.
Instrumentation is state of the art and the aircraft is powered by a single Pratt and Whitney Canada PT6A-67B turbo-prop engine.
An RFDS flight nurse is tasked on every mission, and where the patient is seriously ill, a doctor is also present.
Other passengers can include sitting patients, accompanying relatives or specialist medical staff.
Maximum altitude
30,000 feet
Maximum speed:
519 km/h
Aeromedical range:
2,889 km
Aeromedical configuration:
Two stretcher beds and three seats
The latest addition to the RFDS SA/NT fleet and the first of five ordered, this is the first aeromedical-fit version of the next-generation PC-12 PRO in the world.
Pilatus PC-12 PRO
It features step-change advancements in operational performance, aviation safety and environmental credentials.
PilatusPC-12 PRO features:
Safety Autoland System: Designed to autonomously control and land the aircraft in an emergency, without pilot.
Autothrottle system: Fully automatic Electronic Propeller and Engine Control System and digital thrust to maintain desired airspeed, reduce pilot workload, boost fuel efficiency, deliver smoother flights and protect against engine overload.
Smart Glide: Assists the pilot in managing an engine power loss scenario by automating glide tasks and locating a suitable airport.
Improved stall protection: Upgraded systems to warn and protect against aerodynamic stalls.
Advanced cockpit: High-resolution touchscreens, synthetic vision technology and improved exterior visibility to give pilots greater situational awareness and safer decision-making – especially at night, in poor weather or on remote airstrips.
Lower emissions: Reduced CO2 output and compatibility with Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) supports greener operations without compromising performance.
Streamlined maintenance: The aircraft operates under a modern maintenance plan with intervals extended to 600-hour checks versus 300-hour checks of previous models – meaning less time in the hangar and more time flying.
Short and rough-field capable: Like current PC-12 models, it requires just 758 metres of runway and operates on grass, gravel and dirt.
Pilatus PC-24
With capacity for three stretchered patients and two medical teams consisting of four doctors and nurses, the PC-24 also has the capability of landing and taking off on unsealed runways as short as 800m, expediting long-haul transfers and boosting the overall fleet capacity for response times within all regions.
Operating 24/7, the primary mission of the PC-24 is to swiftly transfer critically ill patients, including those in need of neurosurgical, stroke and spinal care, from remote areas to major medical centres like Adelaide.
Additionally, it facilitates RFDS crews to respond to remote multi-patient trauma incidents, conduct long-haul transportation for infants requiring life-saving surgery alongside their families, and support the repatriation of larger groups of recovering patients.
The PC-24 expedites life-saving care – Darwin to Adelaide in 3.9 hours, Alice Springs to Adelaide in 1.9 hours.
The ultimate flying intensive care unit | 2 aircraft in SA/NT
Maximum altitude
45,000 feet
Maximum speed
815 km/h
Range
3,610 km (2,000 NM)
Aeromedical configuration
Three stretcher beds, four seats
Road ambulances
While our origins are in aeromedical retrieval, the RFDS delivers quality 24/7 healthcare services including road ambulance transport services.
In Alice Springs, our Road Ambulance Service ensures seamless continuity of care between our airport base and Alice Springs Hospital.
Our ambulances are positioned across SA/NT:
100% owned and maintained
Fitted out with patient experience as top priority
Powered Stryker stretchers
Modern cardiac monitors
Single or dual stretcher capability
State-of-the-art safety features
Our bases >
Our aeromedical bases are located in Alice Springs and Darwin, as well as a Patient Transfer Facility in Tennant Creek.
Our Tourist Facilities in Alice Springs and Darwin also offer the chance for visitors to learn more about the Flying Doctor.