Queensland Government (QGAir) Rescue / Helicorp (Toll Helicopters) Bell Helicopter Textron 412EP VH-LWI Pops into Hamilton Island Airport as "Rescue 521"

Late on Wednesday 6 March, Queensland Government (QGAir) Rescue / Helicorp (Toll Helicopters) Bell Helicopter Textron 412EP VH-LWI was noted completing a medical evacuation flight from Hamilton Island Airport to Townsville as "Rescue 521".

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The distinctive green and white helicopter is currently based at Townsville and is on lease to QGAir Rescue from Toll Helicopters for the storm season.  It proved to be a vital part of the recovery efforts during the recent major flooding event in Townsville.

I thought that this visit to Hamo may have been its first into Central Queensland since it took up operations with QGAir, however research shows that it also visited Proserpine Hospital the previous night late on Tuesday 5 March.

As we posted below, VH-LWI ferried through Gladstone and Mackay Airports for Townsville at the start of January and looked to replace the QGAir Rescue Bell 412EP VH-ESB which ferried to Mudgee in New South Wales in mid-December 2018.

VH-LWI operates alongside fellow QGAir Rescue Bell 412 VH-ESD out of Townsville, along with Agusta AW139 helicopters VH-EZJ and VH-ESH which seem to be splitting their time operating out of Cairns as well as Townsville.