CareFlight has named its iconic Sydney helicopter in honor of its founding pilot, John Hoad.
Earlier this year the aeromedical service’s longest serving employee officially retired after more than 37 years flying for CareFlight.
In October 2024, a ceremony was held at CareFlight’s Westmead base to name the Airbus H145 helicopter, “Captain John Hoad,” honoring his contributions as both a founding member of CareFlight and the ensuing continuous decades of service as a pilot.
With fellow founders, his wife and CareFlight colleagues present, it was only fitting that the The Mounties Care CareFlight Helicopter, bearing its new moniker “Capt John Hoad” was tasked on a lifesaving mission.
Meanwhile, CareFlight chairperson Brad Hazzard presented Hoad with a commemorative plaque. As the helicopter returned, John unveiled his name on the front of the helicopter.
With a pre-aviation career in healthcare, Hoad is renowned for his dedication to integrating aviation and medicine into a single operation – a belief that CareFlight holds strong today.
Over the course of his career, Hoad has played a fundamental part in saving and improving many Australian lives. Hoad has flown thousands of missions, including responding directly to rapid response medical trauma emergencies and critical patient transfers.
Read more about Hoad’s career here.
Hoad flew six helicopter types over his career at CareFlight, each bringing advances in technology that assisted Hoad and the team to more effectively carry out their lifesaving work.
The advanced new Airbus H145, Mounties Care CareFlight Helicopter, introduced in 2021, is in Hoad’s words, “definitely the most exciting addition to CareFlight’s fleet.”
The CareFlight team remains incredibly grateful to Hoad and is proud his namesake will prove yet another means through which his legacy of providing a lifesaving aeromedical service will continue.
This press release was prepared and distributed by CareFlight.
