Wally MK2, I bet you a Mars Bar that the RFDS will continue operating the Victorian Air Ambulance contract way past 2011.
Like the idea of a Cessna Citation for air ambulance work.
Compressor Stall what basically is the difference in the B200 and B350, apart from the CAO20.7.1b compliance? Basically the same airframe apart from bigger engines, longer fuselage and the dual-feed inverter system. The actual airframe is still built the same and shares a large number of common parts with the B1900, B200, C90, Queenair series, Twin Bonanza and B18 aircraft.
CLX, made a valid point in relation to why the government departments request a twin turbo-prop for aero medical work. Must really irk the Pilatus agents in Australia.
Just keep in mind the original Beagle 206 that the RFDS operated in NSW, were certified below 5700kgs but came with charts and also certification to show a positive rate of climb with an engine failure after take-off, all happily accepted by DCA back in the late 1960's.