Babcock has been providing Law Enforcement, Emergency Medical and Search and Rescue services to the Government of South Australia since 2005.
The State Rescue Helicopter Service (SRHS) contract is shared between SA Police (SAPOL) and SA Ambulance Service (SAAS) to provide critical emergency response across the state. The SRHS operates 24/7 every day of the year and specialises in aeromedical retrievals from rural hospitals and accident scenes, search and rescue missions on-land and at sea, and airborne law enforcement.
Operating from Babcock’s owned hangar at Adelaide Airport, our fleet now consists of three Bell 412 Helicopters for SAAS and an Airbus H145 for SAPOL.
In July 2024, Babcock delivered the latest generation twin-engine Airbus H145 D3 to SAPOL, which is quieter, faster, lighter, more manoeuvrable and fuel efficient, and offers substantial benefits including lower CO2 emissions and reduced noise pollution. The aircraft will provide a critical uplift in capability for SAPOL, giving officers onboard the tools they need to fulfil their duties to maximum effect as they combat crime and protect the community. Additional engineers and four new pilots have also been recruited and trained by Babcock as part of its long-standing commitment to enhancing SRHS’s operational capabilities, which will allow for better resourcing during times of peak operation and relieve pressure on existing services.
In December 2024, Babcock delivered an additional Bell 412 rotary-wing aircraft to SAAS, bringing the fleet from two to three, meaning at least two ambulance aircraft can operate simultaneously, increasing flying capability for the team. Our Bell 412 helicopters will further enhance SAAS 24/7 capability to respond to medical retrievals and rescues, enabling us to continue to provide critical care to all patients in South Australia.
Babcock is committed to fostering a safe and secure world by implementing innovative aviation solutions band collaborating closely with governments, private enterprise and communities to meet their needs, and we take great pride in knowing that our delivery of this aircraft to schedule will result in prompt assistance to those in need.
At a glance:
- Provision of pilots, aircrew and engineers to support 24/7/365 emergency helicopter operations across South Australia.
- Tactical support to SA Police’s Star Force
- Operational support to SA Ambulance Service
- Training support for ambulance & police crew
- Rapid response availability and mobilisation
- Night and day all-weather operations with Night Vision Goggles (NVG), winching capability, fast roping, and critical patient care.
- Compliance with the South Australian Industry Participation Policy
- Integration of new technology and mission role equipment
Enhancing customer solutions
Throughout the almost-15-year contract, Babcock has continued to enhance services and technologies to suit changing customer or industry requirements and regulations, enabling Babcock to continue providing best-of-care services across the state.
In 2015, to meet new SAPOL requirements and increase surveillance capabilities, Babcock enhanced the existing helicopter fleet by installing advanced mission management and communication systems, and multi-sensor imaging systems.
In 2021, we replaced the single-engine EC130 helicopter dedicated to SAPOL operations with another Bell 412. This was to accommodate a change in regulation which made flying single-engine aircraft over built-up areas impractical for surveillance operations.
Babcock also modified the Bell 412s to support SAPOL’s fast roping capability for the crew. While this was a challenging modification project requiring integration across the fleet, our modular approach to aircraft configuration provided flexibility.
In late 2018 Babcock worked closely with SAAS to be the first service in Australia to roll out the Stryker Power Pro XT patient transfer between road and helicopter operations in the Bell412 aircraft. This capability enabled a faster and smother ride for patients and less risk of injury for paramedics and flight crews.
Contract in Numbers
- 1x Babcock-owned hangar at Adelaide Airport
- 3x mission-modified Bell 412
- 1x H145 D3 (online July 2024)
- Supply and maintenance of new immersion suits and the ongoing maintenance of SAAS personnel helmets
- Provide static trainer for SAAS user agency training and maintenance support for the SAPOL Electro Optic/Infrared Sensor (EO/IRS)
- 14 Pilots
- 10 Aircrew Officers
- 8 Engineers
- 2,000+ flying hours per annum
- 1,300 missions per annum