The Growth of the Australian Flying Doctor
TAA replaced all the aging aircraft used for medical services by purchasing six DH - 104 Drover 3-engine aircraft, 
purpose built in Sydney.
These aircraft would be based at Longreach and Katherine, allowing immediate access to patient transport should the need arise. Patients would be transported to the nearest hospital, and if necessary, relocated to a capital city on the regular service when the TAA DC3, fitted wih a stretcher and harness arrived, or if the need dictated more urgent transportation, use these aircraft to effect the patient movement to a major hospital.
Challanging - Due to the lack of flying aids, pilots would fly by compass, map and topography, using roads, railway tracks or identifiable landmarks to reach isolated stations with unknown airstrips, and wherever possible, landing on the dirt roads if they appeared safe enough to do so. Each aircraft would have a pilot and medical team, usually a doctor and nurse, and each trusted the other regarding their professional expertise, - the pilot would act as stretcher
bearer, when required.
In 1955, and with Royal assent, it became the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia and TAA continued these activities until it could employ their own pilots and engineers and purchase newer aircraft.
Typical of the innovativeness of the local people - This sign made of cloth and
cereal sacks being held in place by rocks, tells the pilot 'to land to the west
in the direction of the arrow', indicating level ground and wind direction.
TAA pilots really were the 'Jack of all trades', acting in concert with the doctor and nurse by being the stretcher bearer when necessary, or if a routine visit was planned to an area, act as postman and deliver the mail, or as 'a mate' by purchasing items from a major store in the larger country town and delivering it on the next visit.
Today the RFDS is independantly run. It is self relient, partly subsidised by government grant, and with the assistance of the Australian People, along with organisations supporting this work. It continues the unique service to outback and isolated areas of Australia with bases in all major capital cities and country regions as the population of Australia and the 'outback' grew, and the need for remote 'assistance' increased.
From a small vision of improving 'life in the outback' was created a unique service
