Steve's Airborne Connection

When Steve Wallace says he would fly to the moon and back to save a life, he isn't joking. He and his dedicated team at the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) fly the equivalent of 34 round trips to the moon every year, providing vital health care and 24-hour emergency services to people in rural and remote Australia. And with a waiting room of 7.69 million square kilometres, Steve's daily commute isn't for the travel weary.

Steve, from North Lakes, earned his wings in 1999. Having always had a passion for flying, his sense for adventure and desire to help people led him to pursue an aeromedical career.

Now based with the RFDS (Queensland Section) at Brisbane Airport, Steve pilots one of 79 aircraft that make up the largest and most comprehensive aeromedical organisations in the world. In his role as Senior Base Pilot, he has helped thousands of unwell, injured and stranded residents and visitors.

"I love that I'm not just flying around the sky just delivering people from A to B, but actually involved hands on in the community, helping people in their greatest time of need."

Since starting with the RFDS in 2010, Steve has flown Beechcraft B200s and B350s to many emergencies, including complicated births in remote towns, outback road crashes and near-fatal snake bites. His flight paths span western Queensland to Cape York Peninsula, with one thing in common - the nearest Doctor is often thousands of miles away.

"Most rural towns don't have hospitals, or potentially even a Doctor, and facilities like specialist burns, spinal and paediatric cardiology units are only in Brisbane or Townsville," he said.

"We're responsible for getting our patients to the care they need."

For around seven million of Australia's population that live in rural and remote areas, Steve's aeromedical efficiency is vital in an emergency.

With more than 3,000 flights out of BNE alone last year, having an aviation precinct so close to Brisbane's leading tertiary hospitals is more than just convenient - it's life-saving."  

NEED TO KNOW

• The Royal Flying Doctor Service has nine bases across Queensland and these locations are strategically placed so that no one is more than two hours away from being aeromedically retrieved in case of an emergency.
• This emergency retrieval service operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, delivering the finest care to more than 290,000 Australians each year, that's one person every two minutes. 
• The RFDS is Australia's third largest airline with 79 aircraft that cover the length and breadth of the country. You can track the RFDS fleet live on this flight map.
• The RFDS has been awarded Australia’s Most Reputable Charity for the past eight years in a row. You can show your support by donating here. 
• Brisbane Airport Corporation has supported the RFDS here in Queensland since 2009, donating over $3.9 million dollars. We’re proud to be able to assist with having their team land over 44,000 time into the Brisbane Airport, transferring sick patients to the major hospitals here in Brisbane.

CREDITS

• Feature image: Steve is a pilot with the Royal Flying Doctor Service (Queensland Section). 

• Brisbane Airport's connection to our community runs deep. Find out how deep and read more BNE stories.