Even a cruise speed of 240-250 Kts would yield an advantage over both fixed and rotory wing aircraft for some types of ops. Particularly in the SAR and EMS roles, where both FW and RW platforms could potentially be replaced. At least one EMS operator in Australia has expressed intrest in the 609.
Currently in NSW 4-5 B350/400s are used to conduct long range medical retrieval, and a network of 13 helicopters (AW139s, EC145s, BK-117s, B412s, Dauphins and an A109E) are used for shorter range EMS, IC hospital transfer and SAR. The 609 could trump the King Airs by flying direct from hospital to hospital (or accident scene), over long ranges. Taking IC Paramedics, Doctors and IC Ambulance bays with them. Patients could be retrieved from the scene and transported directly to a metropolitan operating theatre without the need for modal transfer. All this would likely be achieved in a quicker time frame than could be achieved utilising any of the existing platform types.
So, potentially, a small number of helos could remain for metro EMS, while everything elso could be achieved using 609s. All this is pie in the sky however. I have no idea of costs or the practicalities of such an operation. Just a thought.
I wonder how the efficiencies of the 609 will compare to the developments of Sikorsky's X-2/S-97 long term?
Last edited by Trojan1981; 15th Feb 2012 at 22:55.
Reason: Typos