A fleet of replacement aircraft are to be delivered to the Queensland Police Service (QPS) Aviation Capability Group to replace its ageing and antiquated fixed-wing fleet.
In a statement, the QPS said the new aircraft would provide the operational capability to conduct organ retrieval flights to locations anywhere in Australia and New Zealand.
“In the past 18 months alone, the Queensland Police Service Aviation Capability Group has conducted more than 100 organ retrieval operations. That’s around six organ retrievals per month or around one per week,” the QPS said.
Acting Minister of Police, Mark Furner said the purchase included two new mid-sized jets and five new turbo prop aircraft.
“The modern aircraft will boost capacity and capability across QPS operations, which include life-saving organ transfers, specialist police operations, general transportation to remote areas and prisoner transfers,” Mr Furner said.
Acting Assistant Police Commissioner, Marcus Hill said the five Beechcraft King Air 360 turboprops would be based in Cairns, Mount Isa and Brisbane and the two Gulfstream G280 jets would fly out of Brisbane.
“The modern turboprops will have cargo accessibility to help transport important supplies during disasters and special police equipment which can be transported anywhere in Queensland or Australia,” A/Assistant Commissioner Hill said.
“They will also be pressurised, allowing them to travel higher and faster and attend to urgent jobs quicker.”
He said the two jets replaced the old Citation and Hawker jets which were recently sold after reaching the end of their economic and operational life.
The QPS Aviation Capability Group is also responsible for providing aviation services for multiple Government Departments across Queensland including Queensland Ambulance Service, Queensland Corrective Services, Queensland Fire and Emergency Services, Queensland Health and other Agencies.
The new aircraft will be introduced over the next two years and will bring the total fixed-wing fleet to nine aircraft, in addition to the rotary wing and remotely piloted aircraft systems.
