Minister for Police, Corrective Services and Emergency Services
The Honourable Neil Roberts

Friday, November 06, 2009

EMQ TO COMPLY WITH HELICOPTER DIRECTIVE

Emergency Management Queensland will fully comply with a directive issued by helicopter manufacturer AgustaWestland for daily inspections of the tailboom on the AW139 aircraft in its fleet, Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts said today.

There are three AW139 aircraft in EMQ’s fleet of five aero-medical and search and rescue helicopters. The remaining aircraft are Bell 412 helicopters.

“AgustaWestland advised in a worldwide technical bulletin on October 28 of a possible issue with debonding on the tailboom on all AW139 helicopters in use world wide,” Mr Roberts said.

“As the manufacturer has issued the directive it immediately became a Civil Aviation Safety Authority requirement and EMQ is fully complying.

“I am advised that EMQ engineers already undertake routine inspections and regular maintenance on the aircraft so this latest advice will be incorporated into established practices.”

Mr Roberts said aero-medical and search and rescue services would be maintained across the state.

“I am advised that AgustaWestland is currently working on a solution to the issue and EMQ will be working closely with them in that regard,” he said.

“EMQ will implement strategies to minimise any possible impacts of these requirements on the operation of its fleet of AW139s helicopters.

“It is important to note that EMQ’s fleet of helicopters is supported by a number of community helicopter providers based across the state including Careflight (Queensland) based on the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast Helicopter Rescue Service, Capricorn Helicopter Rescue Service in Rockhampton, Central Queensland Helicopter Rescue Service in Mackay and Australian Helicopters Pty Ltd in the Torres Strait."

Media contact: Scott Chandler on 0488 096 204

---