It arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Roma Airport and looked to fly across from Adelaide in South Australia, departing there on Saturday 17 August.
The distinctive bright red-and-white rescue chopper has until recently been operating for the South Australia-based MAC (Motor Accident Commission) Rescue service. It looked to complete possibly its final flight in late July as "Rescue 55".
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| File photo (Peter Browne / https://www.flickr.com/) |
MAC (Motor Accident Commission) Rescue is South Australia's rescue helicopter service used by the health and emergency service organisations to undertake medical retrieval, policing, bushfire management and search and rescue tasks. It was established in 2009 under contract with Australian Helicopters (now Babcock Mission Critical Services Australasia) for use by MedSTAR Emergency Medical Retrieval Service, SA Police and the SA Country Fire Service.
It appears that Babcock currently operates fellow Bell 412 rescue helicopters VH-VAS "Rescue 51" and VH-VAO "Rescue 52" for MAC Rescue out of Adelaide Airport and reportedly conducts more than 1000 missions across South Australia each year.
At the time of writing, VH-LSA appears to be still parked at Rockhampton Airport.
UPDATE! It appears that VH-LSA has come to Rockhampton Airport to replace fellow Babcock Mission Critical Services Australasia Bell 412EP helicopter VH-VAU which departed Rockhampton Airport for the Sunshine Coast and Coffs Harbour on Monday 19 August. It is believed that VH-VAU will undergo planned maintenance while at Coffs Harbour, while VH-LSA will commence operating for the Rockhampton Airport-based Capricorn Helicopter Rescue Service (CHRS).
Sincere thanks to local plane spotters Trevor H and Kayanne H for taking the time to capture and send through these great photos!
Photos taken by Trevor Hardsman and Kayanne Hardsman ©
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