David Eyre 
VH-OWJ: First registered 24 April 2013 as HB-FSK to Pilatus in Stans, Switzerland, registration cancelled 11 October 2013 as exported to Australia.
Registered VH-OWJ on 18 October 2013. It was delivered from Switzerland via a number of destinations before flying from Denpasar (Bali) to Port Hedland on 3 November 2013, and Port Hedland to Jandakot on 4 November 2013. It was then fitted with medical equipment at Jandakot, and at the time of this photo had yet to enter service.
It is the first WA-based aircraft to wear the nationally-adopted RFDS livery.
VH-OWS: RFDS Western Operations’ newest aircraft. First registered 30 July 2013 as HB-FQB to Pilatus in Stans, Switzerland, registration cancelled 19 November 2013 as exported to Australia. Registered VH-OWS on 21 November 2013. It was delivered from Switzerland via a number of destinations before flying from Lombok to Broome on 9 December 2013, and Broome to Jandakot on 10 December, one week prior to this photo. It was then fitted with medical equipment at Jandakot, and at the time of this photo had yet to enter service.
Photo © David Eyre
Copyright © 2014 David Eyre – 20 February 2014.
Two new Pilatus PC-12/47E aircraft are soon to be delivered to the Royal Flying Doctor Service (Western Operations) base at Jandakot Airport.
The two new PC-12 aircraft are:
- VH-OWU (MSN 1433, ex HB-FQG)
- VH-OWX (MSN 1439, ex HB-FQM)
Like the previous two new aircraft, VH-OWJ (delivered 4 November 2013) and VH-OWS (delivered 10 December 2013), the two additional aircraft will wear the nationally-adopted RFDS livery,with bright red on the lower fuselage.
As the aircraft are used in the mining areas, BHP Billiton donated $4.5 million towards the $22 million acquisition cost of the four aircraft.
An article by Claire Tyrrell in The West Australian newspaper, RFDS chief executive Grahame Marshall said “Over the past five years patient demand has increased 8 per cent, which means another 600 to 700 people.”
He also mentioned that “There are 14 PC12 aircraft in our fleet and we hope to bring that to 18 in the next 10 years.”
The RFDS replaces its aircraft every 10 years, and each one accrues approximately 1500 to 1600 flying hours each year.
