100% Locally Owned, Independent and Free

100% Locally Owned, Independent and Free

Rescue chopper crew helps a light plane pilot to safety after weather deteriorates

Do you have a news tip? Click here to send to our news team.

How heartbreak is inspiring trainer to get people moving

At just 23, Bart Walsh battled a cancer that ravaged his face and left him with altered speech and balance. He had a malignant peripheral More

Key roads to close for wide-ranging sports event

Major roads on the Sunshine Coast, including sections of motorway, will be closed for a mass participation sports event. About a dozen roads will be More

Sami Muirhead: Spring fields of broken dreams

I love this time of year. As I was sitting around the firepit last week, having a farewell-to-winter gin and tonic, I started to More

Coast’s first tilt-panel duplex sets new luxury standard

A “first of its kind” duplex built using a concrete tilt panel process is setting a new benchmark for luxury living. Steps from the beach, More

Photo of the day: morning calm

Lesley Evans captured this serene scene at Happy Valley, Caloundra. If you have a photo of the day offering, email photo@sunshinecoastnews.com.au. Photos must be horizontal/landscape More

Coast’s first full-service hotel in 30 years tops out

A new 12-storey hotel in the heart of the Sunshine Coast has officially reached its highest point, with the development on track to open More

A Sunshine Coast-based rescue helicopter crew has helped a light plane pilot to safety, after he was caught in bad weather.

It’s believed the pilot was flying west of the Glass House Mountains on Monday morning, when conditions deteriorated and caused him to lose communications.

The pilot activated a personal locator beacon, while he circled a small area.

The Sunshine Coast LifeFlight helicopter crew was called into action by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority Response Centre to locate the aircraft.

The LifeFlight helicopter helped navigate the pilot out of the area. Picture: LifeFlight.

The crew managed to spot the light plane and was able to make direct contact with the pilot via radio.

The crew then helped navigate the pilot out of the area of bad weather, escorting him until they were in an area with safer flying conditions.

He continued on his journey and landed at his destination, north of Brisbane.

The Land Rover LifeFlight Special Mission Helicopter performed the mission.

The aircraft is part of LifeFlight Australia’s commercial operation, which supports the work of the community helicopter fleet, through its profit-for-purpose model.

It is based at the Sunshine Coast and is rotated through community bases, when operationally required.

Help keep independent and fair Sunshine Coast news coming by subscribing to our free daily news feed. All it requires is your name and email. See SUBSCRIBE at the top of this article.

Subscribe to SCN’s free daily news email

This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
[scn_go_back_button] Return Home
Share