Queensland's air-medical rescue group CareFlight has announced a major safety training contract with the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Ten cadets from the Abu Dhabi police force in UAE have begun aircrewman training with CareFlight Safety Services (CSS) at CareFlight’s base at the Gold Coast Airport.
CSS instructor Simon Gray said they are the first group of 20 Abu Dhabi police cadets and 10 Abu Dhabi police pilots to undertake the 10 week training course.
“The cadets will be trained in aircrewman skills such as winch operation, flight patterns and aircraft systems at the CareFlight base at Coolangatta over the next few months,” Mr Gray said.
“They need these skills because it is the police who perform search and rescue and emergency medical retrievals in UAE.
“The 10 weeks of training begins at a fairly basic level in the classroom, and progresses to practical training in single winches, double winches and stretcher winches. They also do a Helicopter Underwater Escape Training (HUET) course and some first aid training.
“After the two groups of students complete their training, the top five students overall will undertake a further four weeks of training in advanced search and rescue and winch emergency skills.”
The training contract is between CSS and the Abu Dhabi Police Force. Previously CSS has trained Dubai police and UAE air force personnel in winch and search and rescue procedures. CSS also provides aviation safety training to Australian Defence Force personnel.
CareFlight Safety Services is the training arm of charity RACQ CareFlight. RACQ CareFlight has helped more than 12,500 people since first starting operations in 1981. The community service operates throughout southern QLD and northern NSW and is on stand-by 24 hours a day.
Media contact: Katrina Cutler 0421 381 023