Babcock Australasia (Babcock) and Surf Life Saving NSW (SLSNSW) have joined forces to pursue long-range drone technology and services that could radically transform the state’s surf lifesaving operations into a broader national asset for disaster prevention, response, and recovery.
The two parties formally signed a Memorandum of Understanding today, which seeks to explore opportunities to modernise and enhance coastal operations using Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) Remote Pilot Aircraft Systems (RPAS).
Primary areas of focus will include improving air observation and intelligence-gathering capabilities for search and rescue, environmental monitoring, shark watch, national disaster relief RPAS services and maritime operations that mitigate the need for traditional rotary wing operations.
Babcock and SLSNSW, via its subsidiary Australian UAV Service (AUAVS), will now jointly evaluate potential long-range technology platforms to meet requirements, with suitable solutions progressed through to testing, initially along the NSW Central Coast.
Quotes attributable to Babcock Australasia CEO Andrew Cridland
“A partnership between Babcock Australasia and Surf Life Saving NSW presents a unique opportunity. Combining our complementary skills and capabilities for emergency management response, means we will be able to respond more frequently and with greater levels of service to our customers.”
“We know how important surveillance along our beaches and waterways can be, particularly in summer, so we welcome the opportunity to partner with AUAVS and utilise our aviation expertise to develop and deliver transformative long-range technologies and services that will help save lives. It forms part of Babcock’s commitment to creating a safe and secure world, together.”
Quotes attributable to SLSNSW CEO Steve Pearce
“By leveraging long-range RPAS technology, the partnership will modernise and extend the capabilities of Surf Life Saving’s coastal and emergency response operations.”
“Proactive and reactive missions, such as search and rescue, will benefit from greater operational agility, real-time data collection, and increased reach. This will substantially improve detection, response times and success rates in both localised and large-scale incidents.”
Background
Australian Uncrewed Aerial Vehicle Service (AUAVS)
The AUAVS is the largest provider of coastal UAV (drone) surveillance programs in the Southern Hemisphere.
An operational unit under Surf Life Saving NSW, the AUAVS has the experience and capability to operate UAVs for a range of different public safety uses across the breadth of NSW, as well as nationally and internationally.
For more information visit the AUAVS website.
Babcock Australasia
Babcock is one of the country’s leading providers of helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) and rescue response, operating services on behalf of the State Rescue Helicopter Service in South Australia, Queensland Health in the Torres Strait and northern Queensland, and Ambulance Victoria in Victoria.
It has also supported Australian Border Force with pilots, surveillance and maintenance on rotary wing aircraft in the Torres Strait for close to 30 years.
In the last 12 months, Babcock has delivered more than $100 million worth of new and additional aircraft into its fleets supporting the safe and timely delivery of emergency services. It has also signed contract extensions across commercial aviation for ground support equipment maintenance and with the South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service to service its appliances and equipment.
Babcock operates 18 helicopters from eight bases across Australia, utilising the expertise of 500-plus aviation staff.
For more information visit the Babcock website.
