History
Founded by Bart Bassett, Dr. Andrew Berry and Jeremy Ovens to supply air transport to NETS, the service started with a twin-engined BO 105 helicopter on 19 November 1989. Within twelve months, a new BK 117 was delivered from the factory in Germany as the flagship of the service.
In 2000, a second helicopter was purchased to improve service continuity to NETS. It is a twin-engined Eurocopter AS365 N2 Dauphin with tricycle retractable landing gear and high-speed, long distance performance. In June 2010, another aircraft will be introduced into the fleet; a Bell 412EP which will provide more working space, carrying capacity and operating range than has previously been available from the BK 117.
In late November, it was announced that Child Flight's contract would cease on 31 December 2012 after the New South Wales Government awarded the Newborn and Paediatric Emergency Transport Service contract to CareFlight. Child Flight had hoped to have the contract extended by six month, in order to sell the three aircraft without "fire sale" prices.
In December, the New South Wales Ministry of Health and Child Flight negotiated an agreement which will give Child Flight five months and A$400,000 to complete its transition, by ceasing its aviation arm to a charity arm in supporting medical retrieval. Child Flight and CareFlight also negotiated an agreement for a two month lease for one helicopter from Child Flight, to continue the services that was once provided by Child Flight from 1 January 2013.
Read more about this topic: Child Flight
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