The Runway For Victoria's Bravest
24/7
Emergency services always ready to respond
1 in 3
Airport flight movements are emergency services
15,000
Emergency service flights per year
Essendon Fields Airport is the proud home of the State’s emergency services air wings. From daily surveillance flights to emergency response and seasonal fire protection, the activities of these organisations account for nearly a third of all aircraft movement at our airport.
We’re honoured to be the runway for Victoria’s bravest, and to help share their stories.
READY TO RESPOND 24 HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK
24-hr access for emergency movements and our proximity to major hospitals plays a major part in making Essendon Fields the vital emergency services hub that it is today.
Over 8,000 annual incidents are attended by Air Ambulance Victoria and the Victoria Police Air Wing alone. Thousands of other emergency flights pass through our airport each year, ranging from medical evacuations, to search and rescue missions and urgent organ transport.
We’d like to say thank you to our airborne heroes. Your commitment and courage plays a vital role in protecting our community.
As a sign of our gratitude, we’re partnering with Hyatt Place Melbourne Essendon Fields to provide a FREE coffee on us, available to all local or Essendon Fields based emergency services personnel on Wed 18th June.
We’d like to say thank you to our airborne heroes. Your commitment and courage plays a vital role in protecting our community.
As a sign of our gratitude, we’re partnering with Hyatt Place Melbourne Essendon Fields to provide a FREE coffee on us, available to all local or Essendon Fields based emergency services personal on Wed 18th June.
MEET THE TEAMS
Where duty takes flight
Officially formed in 1975, the Victorian Police Air Wing is the aviation unit of the Victoria Police. Operating a fleet of aircraft, the Police Air Wing provides State-wide services including crime prevention and detection, search and rescue and operation activities.
In 2020 the Air Wing replaced its fleet of Dauphin helicopters with 3 new Leonardo AW139 helicopters, outfitted with advanced mission consoles, cameras and rescue hoists. The force also introduced a Beechcraft Super King Air aeroplane to the fleet for the first time, to assist with long range surveillance activity.
Where rural lifelines take flight
Synonymous with its roots in the Queensland outback, the Victorian Section of The Royal Flying Doctor Service was first to be formed, and has been based at Essendon Fields for more than 20 years. Today, Essendon Fields Airport is the central hub for the Flying Doctor’s aeromedical service, and connects its road patient transport to 22 bases located throughout Victoria, New South Wales, and Tasmania.
Each year RFDS Victoria provides over 90,000 patients with primary health care services and transports by air or road. In 2020 the RFDS moved into a newly refurbished WWII hangar at Essendon Fields Airport, where they continue to partner with organisations across the State to improve the health and well-being of our regional communities.
Where critical care takes flight
Air Ambulance Victoria ALS and MICA flight paramedics are specially trained to perform advanced treatments in challenging environments. Two Leonardo HEMS (Helicopter Emergency Medical Service), two new custom Beechcraft King Air 60’s and two new King Air 360 aircraft operate from Essendon Fields, and the base is an important link for three other regional HEMS aircraft based in the Latrobe Valley, Bendigo and Warrnambool.
Most helicopter callouts are for life-threatening emergencies, which are mainly trauma and paediatric cases, while the fixed wing aircraft are used in emergencies and for the routine transport of non-emergency patients, or those requiring specialist in-hospital treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
From their Essendon Fields Airport home base, Air Ambulance Victoria services extend over 700,000 square kms, and nationally the airport provides a central point for patient transfer and refuelling services.
Where second chances take flight
Aeromedical evacuations and Medevac operations, which include the emergency and non-emergency transport of patients by fixed wing aircraft, are undertaken by private operators at our airport. AirMed (pictured), JetCity and ExecuJet provide these unique services and work in conjunction with specialised medical rescue staff.
Operators such as AirMed provide a full bed-to-bed service for all operations, assisting patients ranging from Neonatal, Paediatric, Bariatric, Maternity and “End-of-life” care requirements internationally and domestically. Additionally, AirMed assists with transporting surgical teams to perform organ retrievals for transplant or research. Urgent cancer medicine known as isotopes are also regularly transported by AirMed.
Where Courage Takes Flight
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority [AMSA] operates Bombardier Challenger 604 jet aircraft which are specifically modified and operated under contract by Leidos Australia. AMSA also operates aircraft from Cairns and Perth and is responsible for national maritime and aviation search and rescue across a region covering approximately one-tenth of the Earth’s surface.
These aircraft are available for search and rescue tasking at short notice, 24 hours a day seven days a week.
Help When It's Needed Most
During the summer months of December through to March, Essendon Fields Airport is heavily utilised as an operating base for firefighting and information gathering aircraft.
Kestrel Aviation is the latest to use Essendon Fields as a base, operating three rotary aircraft; a Eurocopter AS322L Super Puma Helitack 349, a new Aircrane – Helitack 341 “Isabelle”, and Firebird 308. An Infra Red Firescan 126 fixed-wing aircraft will also call Essendon Fields home. The aircraft are part of the state’s 51-strong firefighting fleet.
Thank Our Airborne Heroes
The next time you are passing by our airport take note of the extraordinary work that is happening on and above the ground. And, remember when you see an emergency aircraft overhead chances are it has come from or is heading to Essendon Fields to undertake a special mission.
