Gunnedah’s airport upgrade has proved itself a winner already with a King Air 350 air ambulance landing on Monday to pick up a premature baby to be airlifted to Williamtown airport and then by road to John Hunter Hospital for specialist treatment.

A neonatal team has accompanied the air ambulance which is fitted with stretchers and all essential equipment to care for patients, including babies.

Pilot Angus Hussey and flight nurse Pang Tam are both based in Sydney and had high praise for the upgrade at Gunnedah airport.

“It is a wonderful tarmac, with no limitations,” Angus said. “It is level and has lights on the runway – well worth the money spent. What price can you put on a human life?

“Next year we will have two PC24 jets coming online and they will have no problems landing on this tarmac.”

After 22 years as a long-haul pilot for Cathay Pacific, Angus says his job as an air ambulance pilot is the best he has ever had.

“We mainly come out west to pick up cardio patients and to have a great runway like Gunnedah’s is a bonus,” he said.

“I spent some time out here when I was younger working as a jackaroo on the Ross family property – not a very good one but it was memorable.”

Originally from Hong Kong, flight nurse Pang Tam has been in Australia for nine years and like Angus, he loves his job.

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