Media Release
New search and rescue aircraft for Western Australia commissioned
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority’s (AMSA) second dedicated search and rescue aircraft, the Dornier 328 turbo-prop, Nemo 2, was commissioned in Perth today, by AMSA’s Chief Executive Officer, Clive Davidson.
Mr Davidson said this dedicated search and rescue aircraft will greatly improve Australia’s maritime and aviation emergency and search and rescue response capabilities in Western Australia and the offshore region.
“The new Perth based Dornier is a great boost to AMSA’s ability to rapidly respond to a search and rescue incident in Western Australia and it is a vital asset in the Government’s Emergency Response Division arrangements.”
The dedicated search and rescue service for Western Australia is part of the $74 million funding package announced by the Minister for Transport and Regional Services, Warren Truss, in the 2004 and 2005 Budgets to strengthen AMSA’s search and rescue capability around Australia.
The twin turbine engine Dornier 328 is fitted with the latest technology including Forward Looking Infra-Red (FLIR) camera system, satellite communications and direction finding equipment to detect and home in on emergency beacon transmissions and radio distress calls, and by the end of the year surface search radar. Life rafts and other emergency equipment can be deployed from the Dornier to people in emergencies. The Dornier is capable of operating at speeds in excess of 600 kilometres per hour, in all weather conditions and will be ready to respond to an emergency within 30 minutes.
The Dornier is operated by AeroRescue Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of the Paspaley Group, who won the contracts to provide five aircraft for search and rescue services at strategic locations around the Australian coastline. AeroRescue already provides the dedicated search and rescue Dornier aircraft (Nemo 1) for AMSA in Darwin. The other three search and rescue aircraft are to be progressively introduced at Cairns in October 2006, Melbourne in December 2006 and Brisbane in February 2007.
The Dornier is an important part of AMSA’s multi-disciplinary approach to maritime and aviation Emergency Response Division and will be available under a whole of Government approach to other agencies.Media contact: Sara Nolan 0417 615 769