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Is there still a Flying Doctor service in Australia?

The Flying Doctor operates from numerous bases, health services and other facilities (including marketing, fundraising and public relations as well as the national office) across Australia.



Yes, the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) is not only still active in 2026 but is currently undergoing its largest expansion in decades. It remains a vital lifeline for the "Outback," providing 24/7 emergency aeromedical retreats and primary health care to over 7 million square kilometers of the Australian continent. In early 2026, the RFDS received the first of five brand-new Pilatus PC-12 PRO aircraft, which act as "flying intensive care units" with advanced medical suites and the ability to land on unpaved, remote airstrips. The service manages roughly 350,000 patient contacts per year, ranging from critical emergency evacuations to routine dental clinics and mental health support. Funded by a mix of government grants and community donations, the RFDS is an iconic part of Australian culture, ensuring that "the mantle of safety" covers everyone from remote cattle station workers to tourists exploring the Red Centre. It operates a massive fleet of over 80 aircraft from 23 bases nationwide, making it one of the largest and most sophisticated aeromedical organizations in the world.

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The RFDS national fleet is 81 planes strong and is growing each year.

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RFDS bases are operated by: Central Operations – with bases at Adelaide Airport, Alice Springs Airport and Port Augusta Airport, and health services at Andamooka, Marla and Marree.

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The RFDS base at Bankstown began operations in July 1994. Bankstown Base is the home of the Rural Aerial Health Service (RAHS) which the RFDS operates on behalf of NSW Health. While administration and coordination of RAHS flights takes place at the Dubbo Base, the majority of flights are made from Bankstown.

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Filmed on location in and around Broken Hill, RFDS captures the beauty and brutality of Australia's vast centre where the doctors and the nurses, pilots and support staff of the Royal Flying Doctor Service negotiate the unique challenges of medical emergencies across some of the most inhospitable places in the ...

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The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the median U.S. pilot salary at $211,790 in 2022. This means 50% of pilots earn more than this, and 50% earn less. However, there are pilots working for major airlines making more than $700,000 per year.

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