The Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) will introduce changes to its HF radio network in Western Australia from Friday, October 1.
RFDS Western Operations’ chief executive officer Tim Shackleton said the changes highlighted a commitment to ensuring the service was maintained for regional and rural WA.

He said the changes would allow people to continue to make direct contact with the RFDS operations centre in the case of an emergency via HF radio.
“In recent years, fewer people have used the HF radio network as technologies such as satellite and mobile phones have become more readily available for people in remote areas,” Mr Shackleton said.
“However, the HF network continues to be an important back up communication system in country WA and these changes will allow the RFDS to continue to provide the service into the future.”

As of October 1, HF users will be able to reach the RFDS in the case of an emergency by using the VKS-737 radio network and one of the following Selcall numbers.

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