Rex today announced that its subsidiary Pel-Air has taken delivery of the first of five Beechcraft King Air 350 aircraft for the NSW Ambulance fixed-wing patient transport service commencing Air Ambulance operations in January 2022. Pel-Air was awarded this contract in February 2020.

The aircraft will undergo modifications locally, to meet the very stringent requirements of NSW Ambulance. This will allow the aircraft to carry out a range of operations like standard patient transfers, Newborn and Paediatric Emergency Transport Service operations, Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation operations, Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump operations, Bariatric patient operations, over-water aeromedical transfers and major incident responses.

The King Air 350 aircraft, with serial number FM-88, will be registered as VH-AMD. This aircraft registration was historically a NSW Ambulance registration but was released over the years. Pel-Air managed to secure this aircraft registration again for NSW Ambulance and wishes to thank the former owner for agreeing to the transfer of registration for future NSW State Ambulance services.

Pel-Air’s preparations for the start of operations are progressing to plan and Pel-Air is currently recruiting the pilots needed for the beginning of operations on 1 Jan 2022.

Pel-Air is the pre-eminent, fixed-wing air ambulance provider for State Governments in Australia, having already been the contractor for the Victorian State government for the past 9 years.

Rex is Australia’s largest independent regional and domestic airline operating a fleet of 60 Saab 340 aircraft (pre-COVID) on 1,500 weekly flights to 59 destinations throughout all states in Australia. Rex will begin its domestic services between Sydney and Melbourne, with 6 737-800s in March 2021. In addition to the airline Rex, the Rex Group comprises wholly owned subsidiaries Pel-Air Aviation (air freight, aeromedical and charter operator) and the two pilot academies Australian Airline Pilot Academy in Wagga Wagga and Ballarat.