Thursday, May 04, 2017

Capricorn Helicopter Rescue Service / Babcock Mission Critical Services Australasia Bell 412EP VH-VAU

We recently took advantage of another opportunity to take a closer look at Capricorn Helicopter Rescue Service / Babcock Mission Critical Services Australasia Pty Ltd Bell 412EP VH-VAU while positioned outside the CHRS Hangar at Rockhampton Airport.

Owned by Babcock Mission Critical Services Australasia Pty Ltd, formerly Australian Helicopters, VH-VAU is presently based in Central Queensland in support of RACQ's helicopter rescue operation at Rockhampton Airport (Capricorn Helicopter Rescue Service) and Mackay Airport (Central Queensland Rescue).  

While not normally based in Central Queensland, VH-VAU positioned to the region earlier this year to cover the downtime of Bell 412EP VH-CQJ which is undergoing maintenance at Coffs Harbour on the Central NSW coast, and subsequently means BMCSA will be able to continue to satisfy a contract to provide RACQ's helicopter rescue operation three Bell 412 choppers, an agreement that commenced in 2013 with then, Australian Helicopters.

Of interest, Babcock Mission Critical Services Australasia Pty Ltd is a subsidiary of the Babcock International Group, a British multinational corporation headquartered in the United Kingdom. In line with the company's global helicopter operations, Babcock International rebrand its Australian Helicopters and Bond Helicopters Australia businesses under the Babcock banner in 2016.