Ambulance Victoria Extends Helicopter Partnership With Babcock

Republished By Plato

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Babcock Australasia supplies helicopter emergency medical services for Ambulance Victoria. (Image: Ambulance Victoria)

Ambulance Victoria (AV) has renewed its contract with Babcock Australasia for another five years.

The extension, valued at more than $370 million, will come into effect from 1 January 2026 and will see Babcock continue to supply Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) for AV until 2030. AV’s HEMS responded to 2,197 incidents last year, with an average of almost 200 cases each month.

Babcock has supplied HEMS in Victoria since 2016, employing five AW139 helicopters and a service assurance aircraft. The five-year extension will end on 31 December, 2030.

“Babcock Australasia is proud to work in partnership with Ambulance Victoria to provide world-class aero-medical response and flight coordination for this critical state-wide service,” said Babcock Australasia CEO Andrew Cridland.

“We provide this life-saving service 24/7, 365 days a year, ensuring more than 6000 patients annually get the support they need, whenever they need it.

“Babcock’s new five-year contract with Ambulance Victoria is a testament to our hardworking aviation teams who go above and beyond to support the community every day.”

Ambulance Victoria chief executive Jane Miller said the partnership allows the “highest level of care for every patient” regardless of where in the state they live.

“Someone experiencing a medical emergency in a rural location can quickly receive expert care from our ground crews, further clinical support and expertise from our MICA Flight Paramedics and definitive care from a flight to one of Victoria’s high-quality trauma centres. It’s an impressive service,” she said.

“It’s comforting for the community to know that if ever something happens in the remote and far-reaching locations of Victoria – and some parts of New South Wales, South Australia and Tasmania – AV is equipped to provide the best possible emergency response.”

Ambulance Victoria in January also commenced a new $300 million 12-year contract with Rex subsidiary Pel-Air, signed in 2022, to continue to supply aeromedical services using four Beechcraft King Air aircraft plus pilots and engineers. AV has stood by Pel-Air despite whistleblowers raising the alarm about potential issues with pilot fatigue at the company.

To learn more about Babcock’s role in providing air ambulance services in Victoria, listen to our podcast interview with senior base pilot Heath Mastin and senior aircrew officer Ryan Hurrell.