One year on - Kelly's rescue story
Weeks shy of the first anniversary of a life-altering car crash, Kelly Willer reunited with the RAC Rescue crew who helped to save her life. Here's her story.
Sponsored by RAC, funded by the State Government and managed by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) the RAC Rescue helicopters provide vital search and rescue and critical care medical services to the WA community.
On 24 April 2024, RAC Rescue completed the 10,000th mission since the inception of the service in August 2003.
During this time, the helicopters have flown over 2.1 million kilometres and transported more than 6,700 patients.
In this short video, we get a glimpse of the positive impact RAC Rescue has had on the lives of so many.
On behalf of the WA community, we thank DFES and RAC Rescue for delivering this life-saving service.
RAC has been supporting WA's only 24/7 emergency rescue helicopter service since 2003. Since then, the RAC Rescue helicopters have flown more than 9,500 missions.
The RAC Rescue helicopters respond to a wide range of emergencies including:
Other operations include aerial intelligence and reconnaissance, 24-hour disaster and incident aerial mapping operations, emergency personnel and equipment transport and Inter-Hospital Patient Transport.
A third RAC Rescue helicopter provides backup to ensure the two primary helicopters maintain an online status of more than 90 per cent. The backup helicopter can be mobilised to support All-Hazards rescue operations, as it did during the Carnarvon floods, Tropical Cyclone Seroja, Kimberley floods, and the Total Solar Eclipse in Exmouth.
New rescue helicopters coming soon
The RAC Rescue helicopters will soon be replaced with new and improved twin-engine Leonardo AW139 helicopters. These State Government funded helicopters are being customised to the needs of our emergency rescue helicopter crews and will increase the capability of this life-saving service.
The new helicopters will decrease response times to people in need, with the capacity to fly 45 kilometres per hour faster and reach a top speed of 309 km/ph. They will also be able to fly out and back as far as Albany or Dongara without refuelling. This means RAC Rescue can deliver rapid support to more people in WA than ever before. The cabin is also bigger, with the capacity to fit two stretchered patients and equipment or up to 10 seated passengers depending on the need. Paired with some of the most advanced aeromedical equipment and search and rescue technology, this new fleet upgrade will carry RAC Rescue well into the future.
Over the past five years, the RAC Rescue helicopters have a yearly average of:
View the 20 Year RAC Rescue milestone timeline (PDF 438KB).
On 4th May 2023, RAC Rescue completed its 9500th rescue mission since the inception of the service in August 2003. In that time over 6,500 patients have been transported and over 2 million kilometres travelled across WA.
On each mission, the RAC Rescue helicopters fly with a crew that includes a Pilot, an Aircrew Officer and a Critical Care Paramedic (CCP). The RAC recue crew can be airborne within 15 minutes of receiving a call.
RAC Rescue crew:
We actively encourage our community to learn more about and engage with the RAC Rescue helicopters.
The RAC Rescue Experience enables you to take to the sky with the crew using virtual reality technology. The four-minute, 360-degree experience takes you on a mission on board one of the RAC Rescue helicopters without leaving the ground.
RAC Rescue takes part in a limited number of community events, base visits, and training exercises. We also arrange reunions for those rescued by RAC Rescue, so that they can meet the flight crew who assisted them.
To request RAC Rescue for an event, exercise, rescue reunion or to schedule a base visit, please complete the online Event Request Form.
Since 2003, RAC Rescue has performed over 9,800 missions.
With one helicopter base in Perth and the second base in Bunbury, rescue missions can be performed as far north as Jurien Bay and as far south as Windy Harbour.
See some of the missions performed on the map below.
The RAC Rescue helicopters are sponsored by RAC, funded by the State Government and managed by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES).
Stories from the RAC Rescue crew and the people whose lives they've helped save
Weeks shy of the first anniversary of a life-altering car crash, Kelly Willer reunited with the RAC Rescue crew who helped to save her life. Here's her story.
One afternoon, Alan Fisher from Gosnells crashed his motorcycle while out on a solo ride east of Sawyers Valley. His personal locator beacon helped his rescue.
When Danuta Witkowicz and her hiking group ventured out east of Mount Gorrie one Sunday, they never imagined the emergency that would unfold.
Days before his daughter was born, Greg Robbins had a freak ocean accident that saw him onboard RAC Rescue.
A family trip to the beach ends in an emergency transfer with the RAC Rescue Helicopter.
When Witchcliffe local Julie Townsend set out on a peaceful horse ride on the Easter long weekend, she never expected to finish the day with an emergency flight on the RAC Rescue Helicopter.
Have you or a loved one been rescued by the RAC Rescue helicopter?
If you’d like to share your story or meet the crew involved in your rescue, we would love to hear from you.
Please complete the event request form and we will be in touch.
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West Perth, Western Australia, 6005
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