Answering the Call
Bryce England knew his days in green were over. The Blackhawk pilot had a set of skills that were a perfect match for the Australian Army, but finding a civil career that challenged his abilities and valued those skills was problematic. Not for him flying tourists around Uluru in a Bell 206; not for him teaching in a Robinson R22. He needed to fly complex missions in a large twin-engined helicopter, and he needed to keep serving the community in some capacity.
England targeted the career that was closest to military flying: helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS). When the perfect vacancy arose, England turned in his army boots, threw his Commanding Officer a final salute and packed his bags for Canberra. Today, he is one of five pilots that operate from the Toll SouthCare Rescue Helicopter base in the ACT, flying Leonardo AW139s on ambulance and rescue duties averaging to missions per shift.
HEMS missions can challenge a pilot’s skill, knowledge, cognitive ability and endurance all in the name of getting the task done quickly, efficiently and safely … just what England needed in his post-Blackhawk career.
“You get to put your skills to work for a very good cause,” he told Australian Flying during a visit to the base in December last year. “There’s nothing better than coming back from a job having dug into your own toolbox, used all the skills you’ve gained over your career, gone to the edge of your own capabilities and the aircraft’s capabilities and achieving a
