Queensland Government (QGAir) Rescue Bell 412 Helicopters VH-ESB and VH-ESD Ferry North and South via Mackay and Gladstone Airports This Week

This week, a pair of Queensland Government (QGAir) Rescue Bell 412 rescue helicopters have noted ferrying South and North between Townsville and Archerfield Airport via both Mackay and Gladstone Airports.

After operating for some time around Brisbane and the South-East corner of Queensland as "Rescue 500", Bell 412EP VH-ESB ferried North from Archerfield to Townsville via Gladstone and Mackay Airports on Tuesday 24 November.

VH-ESB as "Rescue 500" at Mundubbera Hospital recently  (https://www.facebook.com/rescue500queensland/)

And since arriving in Townsville, VH-ESB has already been put into service operating medical retrieval flights to Proserpine Hospital and Atherton Hospital in Far North Queensland as "Rescue 521".

Fellow QG Air Bell 412 rescue helicopter VH-ESD - which previously operated around Townsville and part of Central and Far North Queensland as "Rescue 521" - departed Townsville for Mackay and Gladstone Airport before ferrying onwards to Archerfield on Wednesday 25 November.

VH-ESD as "Rescue 521" at Ayr Hospital recently  (https://www.facebook.com/rescue521queensland/)

We've reported before that the QGAir rescue helicopters ferry North and South through Central Queensland as a part of a 'rotational system' which is reportedly designed to ensure the even distribution of flying hours on each of their helicopters, thus avoiding the need to have multiple helicopters offline for simultaneous scheduled maintenance.

Finally, of interest, Queensland Government (QGAir) Rescue (State of Queensland) Agusta AW139 helicopter VH-ESH was pictured visiting Hervey Bay Hospital on a medical retrieval task on Monday 23 November now as "Rescue 500".

VH-ESH now as "Rescue 500" at Hervey Bay Hospital  (https://www.facebook.com/rescue500queensland/)

Bit hard to keep up all these movements and callsign uses and changes!