Queensland Government (QGAir) Rescue Agusta AW139 Helicopter VH-EZJ Flys South via Mackay and Gladstone Airports

On Wednesday 2 August, Queensland Government (QGAir) Rescue (State of Queensland) Agusta AW139 helicopter VH-EZJ was noted ferrying South from Townsville via Mackay and Gladstone Airports to Archerfield.  It was heard to be using the radio callsign of "Rescue 520".

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VH-EZJ seems to heading to Archerfield for planned maintenance after operating out of Cairns Airport for a period of time as "Rescue 510".

Of interest, fellow QGAir AW139 VH-ESH flew North into Townsville in late July and looked to take up operations out of Townsville as "Rescue 520".  I presume it has since positioned to Cairns to take over from VH-EZJ as there are two QGAir Rescue Bell 412 helicopters at still based at Townsville.

UPDATE!  In the days after arriving into Archerfield, VH-EZJ has been noted operating in the Brisbane area as "Rescue 500" alongside another QGAir AW139 VH-ESZ which has also been operating as "Rescue 500".

Meanwhile, in other emergency rescue helicopter news around Gladstone and the Fraser Coast, RACQ LifeFlight Rescue Agusta Westland AW139 VH-XIJ has been noted in recent days flying into Gladstone, Bundaberg and Maryborough on med-evac flights from and back to Brisbane.  We've also mentioned below that fellow RACQ LifeFlight Rescue Bell 412 VH-XCN has taken up residence at and is now operating from Bundaberg Airport as "Rescue 522".

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And finally, it appeared that fellow RACQ LifeFlight Rescue Bell 412 VH-XCO may have flown from Biloela / Thangool Airport to Gladstone Airport on Monday 31 July as "Rescue 588".  The usually Toowoomba-based helicopter was then noted returning back South.

Photo taken by 'AC'  ©