Aerorescue (AMSA - Australian Maritime Safety Authority) Aero Pearl Dornier 328-100 VH-PPJ "Rescue 471" at Mackay Airport

Noted visiting Mackay Airport on Saturday 3 September was Aerorescue (AMSA - Australian Maritime Safety Authority) Aero Pearl Dornier 328-100 VH-PPJ "Rescue 471".  It flew North from its Brisbane base

Fellow AMSA Dornier 328 VH-PPV at Mackay Airport  (File photo)

After taking on fuel it departed to Cairns.

Of interest, VH-PPJ is one of five Dorniers that Aerorescue currently operate for AMSA in ports around Australia - VH-PPF, VH-PPG, VH-PPJ, VH-PPQ and VH-PPV - are in their current fleet.

However, a new search and rescue agreement was signed in October 2014 seeing Cobham SAR Services Pty Ltd (Cobham) contracted to provide four Bombardier Challenger CL-604 bizjets from late 2016 for a period of 12 years. 

AMSA (Cobham) CL-604 VH-XND at Adelaide Airport  (File photo)

Cobham will acquire, modify, commission, operate and maintain the four special mission jets to provide a search and rescue capability over land and sea. The aircraft will be available for search and rescue tasking at short notice, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and will be based at Cairns, Perth and Melbourne (Essendon).

Photos taken by 'AC' and Tony Haynes  ©