Making the announcement today, Rio Tinto CEO Iron Ore Andrew Harding said the funding furthered the company’s long-term partnership with the flying doctor, bringing its total contribution to $22.5 million over the last 10 years.
 
“Since 2009, the first Rio Tinto Life Flight jet has been providing critical medical care to all Western Australians, particularly people living in regional and remote communities,” he added.
 
“The health and safety of our people and the sustainability of our local communities lies at the heart of everything we do at Rio Tinto.
 
“We look forward to an expanded, world-leading Rio Tinto Life Flight jet fleet saving valuable time for doctors and nurses at the RFDS and, in the process, helping to save lives.”
 
The funding will support the introduction of four new Pilatus PC24 jet aircrafts from 2017, which RFDS CEO Grahame Marshall says will be a “game changer” for the WA fleet.
 
“These jets can travel twice as far as our PC12 turbo prop aircraft in half the time and unlike other jets can land and take off from dirt airstrips and be operated by a solo pilot,” he said.
 
“The new PC24 jets will be able to take three stretcher patients at one time.
 
“Delivery of the new Pilatus PC24 jets, commencing in 2017, will see the realisation of a long-held and exciting dream for the RFDS and will provide a world leading aero medical service to the people and communities of Western Australia well into the future.”
 
Rio Tinto is a founding member of the RFDS aero medical fund.
 
Since its first Life Flight jet mission in October 2009, the aircraft had evacuated almost 1500 patients, more than 70% of which were from the remote Kimberley and Pilbara regions.
 
The aircraft also allowed the RFDS to conduct the first double critical care transfer, where two critically ill patients were transported at the same time, each with their own critical care doctor and nurse team.
 
Marshall thanked Rio for its commitment to the RFDS and said the Life Flight Jet had become a vital service for Western Australians.
 
“The commitment from Rio Tinto has made a tremendous difference to our ability to respond to the needs of West Australians and today’s announcement of increased and long term support from Rio
 
Tinto is another huge step forward for aero medical services in Australia,” he said.