A new fleet of eight planes and helicopters will be rolled out from next year for law enforcement, search and rescue, and medical retrieval operations, providing a boost in response times and operational capacity across the state.

A dedicated medical retrieval plane will be part of the new fleet, made available through a major investment by the State Government to improve community safety.

The new contract brings together the aerial emergency arms of SA Police and SA Ambulance Service (SAAS) under a single aviation service, increasing efficiency while ensuring the state’s 24/7 emergency response meets future demands.

The $870 million investment will see Toll Aviation provide staff and operate the state-of-the-art fleet, consisting of:

• Two Bell 429 helicopters for SA Police (one operational 24/7, one reserve), with speeds of up to 287km/h and a range of up to 596km for rapid deployment and response. The additional helicopter will ensure there is always one dedicated police aircraft for immediate deployment during maintenance periods.
• Two fixed-wing aircraft including a Pilatus PC12 NG and Cessna C208B EX for SA Police in aerial operations.
• Three Leonardo AW139 helicopters for SAAS (two operational 24/7, one reserve) with speeds of up to 309km/h and a range of up to 698km for search and rescue and emergency medical retrieval operations.
• A fixed-wing Pilatus PC12 NG aircraft for SAAS for use in emergency aeromedical retrieval. The aircraft will be available as an additional Quick Response medical retrieval plane, increasing capacity to treat and retrieve the sickest patients from regional SA.

Under the agreement, Toll Aviation will work with subcontractors – the Royal Flying Doctor Service South Australia and Northern Territory and Indigenous aerospace consultancy Gunggandji Aerospace – to provide the services.

The aircraft will be available for critical emergency response 24 hours a day, seven days a week for the life of the contract, until the end of 2039.

The agreement will also create more than 80 local jobs in management, aircrew, engineering and operations roles.

The new fixed-wing aircraft are due to come online in November next year, with the new helicopters set to begin operation in October 2027.

SAPOL Assistant Commissioner Philip Newitt said the increased law enforcement aerial capability would "enhance community safety by improving search and rescue operations, managing high-speed pursuits safely and expediently moving SAPOL officers around the state when they are needed".

SAAS MedSTAR Retrieval Divisional Clinical Director Dr Andrew Pearce said that in a medical emergency every second counted.

"Distance, speed, climate control and payload are all important improvements to our aeromedical service," Dr Pearce said.

"The addition of the PC-12 fixed-wing aircraft will reduce our time to become airborne by half and will enable us to cover greater distances more quickly.

"By expanding our fleet, we will be better equipped to meet the growing demand of aeromedical services in South Australia. This boost will make a real difference to those who need life-saving emergency care and hospital transfers."