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In 1981, a Queensland State Government Helicopter Unit was established in Brisbane as part of the State Emergency Service (SES). The helicopter, an Aerospatiale AS350B (Squirrel) was used for ministerial transportation and the development of rescue techniques.
In 1984, a second more capable Aerospatiale AS355F1 helicopter (Squirrel) was introduced in Brisbane to allow Ministerial tasks to be carried out safely at night. The introduction of this helicopter also allowed a range of emergency tasks to be undertaken in most weather conditions.
The original Squirrel was relocated to Cairns in early 1985 to support Government agencies in Northern Queensland and SES counter disaster and search and rescue operations.
In January 1991, the Government Helicopter Unit was transferred from the SES to the newly established Aviation Division within the then Bureau of Emergency Services.
July 1992 saw the Aviation Division assume responsibility for the North Queensland Emergency Response Group in Townsville. This acquisition took the number of Government Helicopter Units in Queensland to three.
In January 1995 the Queensland Government announced an aeromedical and air rescue package of initiatives including:
- The replacement of the limited Squirrel helicopters with Bell 412 helicopters.
- Additional pilots and aircrew to provide 24-hour emergency response coverage for the Department's helicopters based in Brisbane, Townsville and Cairns.
- Additional Government funding for the Townsville Air Unit to ensure its role would be the same as the Department's Air Units in Brisbane and Cairns.
In 1996, Aviation Services became part of the Emergency Services Division of the Department of Emergency Services.
In 2004 the squirrel helicopter was replaced with a light twin engined EC135P2 helicopter. This helicopter is able to provide similar IFR and night back up support to the Bell 412 helicopters when they are undergoing maintenance.
On the 12 May 2006 Queensland Rescue was renamed EMQ Helicopter Rescue.
As part of the Queensland Governments commitment to the upgrading of the company helicopter fleet every 10 years 3 new state of the art twin-engine AW139 helicopters were ordered to replace our fleet of Bell 412s. The helicopters are manufactured by Agusta Westland in Italy with the first one arriving in Brisbane in July 2007.
The operational enhancements include:
- Take-off weight of 6400 kg
- Retractable wheeled undercarriage giving a average airspeed of 150 knots (280 kph)
- Larger fuel capacity giving increase range
- Larger cabin area for medical crews
- Enhanced digital avionics and systems for flight crew
- Systems to allow the use of night vision goggles by the aircrew
- Air conditioning for the comfort of patients and crew
With all these improvements it will allow us to provide an ongoing and increased capability to the people and communities of Queensland and northern New South Wales.
Last updated 25 May 2009
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