RFDS Central Section approached the NT Government last time the contract went up for tender, however the medical staff at NTAMS would not fly on single engine aircraft.
Perhaps it's time for one of two things then. Either they are educated as to the safety of turbine singles (Wally, settle down,
), or Pearl Av spend some money on a new fleet!
It's $12M a YEAR. Over the terms of a the contract, surely they would have been able to pay off most of the cost of new aircraft by then.
I have to agree with the article (despite there being no croc in there,
). The fleet currently utilised by NTAMS has well and truely had it's day in this role. I'm sure the aircraft are quite airworthy, and I know 25,000hrs really isn't toooo much when you consider there's plenty of other King Air's out there with the same hours, but in the role of an Aeromedical aircraft, reliability is a major thing and I doubt a 25,000hr, 28 year old aircraft, can provide the same reliability as a brand new one.
Just my opinion,
.
morno