Multi-agency road crash rescue helicopter crew members Dave Lambrick, David Rumble, Phil Trifilo, Captain Dave Dodson and Captain Mike Dunn in front of the Kestrel Aviation Bell 412 helicopter that is currently deployed to assist with the floods in northern Victoria and southern New South Wales.
Emergency services personnel from Tocumwal and Cobram had a rare opportunity to see the capabilities of a multi-agency road crash rescue helicopter when it made a scheduled landing at Tocumwal Airport last week.
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The Kestrel Aviation Bell 412 helicopter is currently the only multi-agency helicopter responsible for providing rescue support in areas isolated by floods to extricate patients in northern Victoria.
It covers the area east to just past Yarrawonga, west to a little beyond Kerang and south to the Woods Point/Jamieson region.
The helicopter, which is also used as a firefighting waterbomber during the height of the summer bushfire season, is based in Bendigo.
In attendance at the demonstration were members of the Tocumwal Rural Fire Service (RFS), Cobram State Emergency Service (SES) and Cobram Fire Brigade.
To the time of landing at Tocumwal, since it was brought into operation about a month ago, the helicopter and its crew has not been required to assist in any live incidents, however, it has responded to two call-outs, including one in Echuca the Saturday before last.
With a crew of five, three volunteer rescue trained personnel and two pilots, the helicopter landed at the Tocumwal Airport at 10.15am last Wednesday.
It was fully loaded with rescue equipment, including three 50kg tote boxes full of a ropes, harnesses, stretchers and other required equipment.
Cobram-Tocumwal (SES) controller Wendy Tucknott said originally the landing was requested for Cobram, but due to the lack of airport facilities there, it was agreed to undertake the familiarisation and demonstration of capabilities at Tocumwal.
“This is a chance for local emergency services personnel to see its capabilities and know how it operates if they are ever asked to join the crew,” she said.
“It can be used in the New South Wales floods to pick up people when we can’t get members in.”
To be a part of the crew, emergency service personnel need to be less than 100kg when carrying their full quota of equipment.
Emergency services personnel from Tocumwal and Cobram had a rare opportunity to see the capabilities of a multi-agency road crash rescue helicopter when it made a scheduled landing at Tocumwal Airport last week.
The crew works a five-day rotational shift of one day travel from their home base to Bendigo, three days on call and one day return travel home for emergency service personnel and a seven-day rolling shift for the pilots.
At the time of landing at Tocumwal, the helicopter was crewed by Kestrel Aviation pilots Captain Dave Dodson from the company’s Nagambie/Mangalore headquarters and Captain Mike Dunn based at Mulgrave in Melbourne.
Also on board were Dave Lambrick from SES Victoria, based at Bacchus Marsh, David Rumble from the Victorian Country Fire Association (CFA) in Plenty (Melbourne) and Phil Trifilo from the Werribee CFA.
Mr Rumble greeted the assembled emergency services personnel at the gate to the Tocumwal Airport tarmac along with Captain Dodson.
He thanked the local personnel for their interest and the air rescue helicopter before saying the object of the day was for them to familiarise themselves with the aircraft, its crew and capabilities in case the helicopter was called to a local rescue or they were required to go on as a crew member.
He provided an update on the helicopter’s current operational role to respond to incidents in the Victorian CFA districts 20, 22 and 23.
“We’ll also respond into New South Wales if local SES or VFA go into those sites,” Mr Rumble said.
“Our role is to respond to all rescue calls where our services may be able to assist local personnel.
“We need a sit rep (situation report) early in the piece and more accurate location information so the pilots can think about where we can put the helicopter down.”
Emergency services personnel from Tocumwal and Cobram had a rare opportunity to see the capabilities of a multi-agency road crash rescue helicopter when it made a scheduled landing at Tocumwal Airport last week.
Captain Dodson said while the crew had yet to assist in a rescue, they respond to all requests, and can be turned around if not needed.
The helicopter was run out of Bairnsdale during the 2019/20 bushfire season for rescues during the fires and as a waterbomber.
It has the capability to carry 1500L of water and travel at more than 200km per hour to provide that water at specific targets.
