OREANDA-NEWS. May 18, 2015. The Royal Flying Doctor Service (WA) has today welcomed a further \\$10 million commitment from Rio Tinto which will contribute to the cost of its new fleet of jets for Western Australia.

Rio Tinto’s support makes it the Founding member of the RFDS Aero Medical Fund.

Rio Tinto Chief Executive Iron Ore Andrew Harding said the new \\$10 million committed to the RFDS was another step forward in the company’s long-term partnership with the flying doctor – bringing the total amount of money committed to the RFDS in WA to \\$22.5M over the last 10 years.

Royal Flying Doctor Service Chief Executive Officer Grahame Marshall said the new funding is on top of Rio Tinto’s existing long term commitment to the Life Flight jet which enables patients in need anywhere in the state to be reached within hours and had become an essential and vital service for West Australians.

“The health and safety of our people and the sustainability of our local communities lies at the heart of everything we do at Rio Tinto,” Mr Harding said.

“Since 2009, the first Rio Tinto Life Flight jet has been providing critical medical care to all Western Australians, particularly people living in regional and remote communities,” Mr Harding said.  

“We look forward to an expanded, world-leading Rio Tinto Life Flight jet fleet saving valuable time for doctors and nurses at the RFDS and, in the process, helping to save lives.”

Rio Tinto is the single largest non-government contributor to the RFDS in Western Australia.

RFDS CEO Grahame Marshall said many lives have already been saved as a direct result of the Rio Tinto Life Flight jet and the extended commitment from the company will further increase the flying doctor’s capacity in the future with the introduction of 4 new Pilatus PC24 jet aircraft.

“Since the jet’s first mission in October 2009, the aircraft has evacuated almost 1,500 patients, the majority (over 70%) from the more distant Kimberley and Pilbara regions,” Mr Marshall said.

“Delivery of the new Pilatus PC 24 jets, commencing in 2017, will see the realisation of a long-held and exciting dream for the RFDS and will provide a world leading aero medical service to the people and communities of Western Australia well into the future.

“The PC24s, due to be in service by 2017, will be a game changer for the RFDS.

“These jets can travel twice as far as our PC12 turbo prop aircraft in half the time and unlike other jets can land and take off from dirt airstrips and be operated by a solo pilot.”

“The Rio Tinto Life Flight jet when originally introduced allowed the RFDS to conduct the first double critical care transfer, where two critically ill patients were transported at the same time, each with their own critical care doctor and nurse team.  The new PC24 jets will be able to take three stretcher patients at one time.”

“The commitment from Rio Tinto has made a tremendous difference to our ability to respond to the needs of West Australians and today’s announcement of increased and long term support from Rio Tinto is another huge step forward for aero medical services in Australia.”