We'll Just Call it Chooka
"We'll just call it Chooka…" Captain Robert Lee, Kalgoorlie Base
On Friday 11th September 1998 I was duty pilot for the day at our Kalgoorlie Base, Western Australia.
The day began normally enough with a Priority Three patient in Kalgoorlie awaiting transfer to Perth. The flight had been scheduled for a 0845 departure.
During preparation for this flight, Flight Nurse Felicity Tyrrell and myself had a call from the Communication Coordinators informing us of a motor vehicle accident on the Laverton – Warburton Road and the possibility of an evacuation from the crash scene. Ten minutes later we were informed of the necessity of a mercy flight, which would involve a road landing. Due to the lack of a dedicated airstrip in the vicinity the road was deemed the most suitable ground, but it did not meet the specifications for an airstrip hence the nomination of a mercy flight which is a fairly rare occurrence.
.jpg)
Prior to departure I had a telephone discussion with our Chief Pilot, Captain Dick Tippett, about the "airstrip" dimensions and what to expect. A narrow road with mulga along the edges. The managers of the local roadhouse were improving the "strip" by removing any standing timber that was infringing on the road/strip, in preparation for our arrival.
We loaded the Aircraft EGQ with all the necessary medical equipment, then Felicity, Dr. Geoff Day and myself boarded the aircraft and departed.
When we arrived overhead we could see this big bloke wielding a chainsaw. He was clearing the last of the close timber.
I made a strip inspection, which involved a low-level fly past in the landing configuration to confirm that I the proposed strip was safe.
There was an eight to ten knot cross wind, to add to the pucker factor on final approach, which was ascertained from a fire that had been lit just adjacent to the "airstrip" as a wind indicator.
I rolled out on final approach, selected my landing point, and managed to pull off one of the smoothest landings I have done in a while. I even got applause from my two passengers.
Having safely delivered the doctor and nurse they set about the business of medicine.
Two hours later we were ready to depart.
The patient was loaded. We fired up and taxied to the opposite end of the strip, even going around a bit of a bend for the initial part of the takeoff roll. A final check to make sure everyone was secure and then we were on our way. A smooth rotation, a waggle of the wings goodbye and off to Perth with our patient in good hands.
Another successful ‘sortie' for the Royal Flying Doctor Service.