| LifeFlight Australia | |
| Formation: | 1979 |
| Headquarters: | Brisbane, QLD |
| Services: | Aeromedical (Primary) |
| Key People: | Ashley van der Velde |
| Subsidiaries: | RACQ LifeFlight Rescue LifeFlight Commercial LifeFlight Training Academy LifeFlight Air AmbulanceLifeFlight Retrieval Medicine |
| Website: | https://www.lifeflight.org.au |
| Formerly: | Gold Coast Helicopter Rescue Service (GCHRS) (1981 - 1993) CareFlight Queensland (1993 - 2007) CareFlight Group Queensland (2007 - 2014) CareFlight Group (2014 - 2016) |
LifeFlight Australia is an aeromedical organisation headquartered in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Until July 2016, it was known as CareFlight, but was renamed to avoid confusion with the CareFlight organisation headquartered in New South Wales. LifeFlight has helped over 81,000 people since 1979.[1]
In 1981, the Gold Coast Helicopter Rescue Service was established on the Gold Coast to provide rapid rescue services on the Gold Coast beaches and hinterland via helicopter. In 1992, under the new name of CareFlight Group QLD Limited, the rescue services were expanded to cover southern Queensland and northern New South Wales. In 1993, the Royal Automobile Club of Queensland became the naming rights sponsor with the service then known as RACQ CareFlight.[2]
In 2013, CareFlight merged with the Sunshine Coast Helicopter Rescue Service, which had started in December 1979 with its first mission flown from the Big Cow on the Bruce Highway.In 2013 former Queensland Premier Rob Borbidge became chairman of Careflight.[3]
Clive Berghofer of Toowoomba has been a generous benefactor of the organisation. By 2014, he had donated $1 million over 10 years.[4] [5] His contribution is recognised by naming the organisation's hangar at Toowoomba City Aerodrome after him and the helicopter that operates from Toowoomba.
On 11 July 2016, Rob Borbidge, chairman of CareFlight, announced that the organisation would be renamed LifeFlight to avoid confusion with a similar organisation - CareFlight New South Wales. The organisation would be renamed LifeFlight. RACQ remain the major naming rights sponsor of the RACQ LifeFlight Rescue helicopter service.[6]
Australia: Brisbane Airport, Archerfield Airport, Sunshine Coast Airport, Toowoomba Airport, Bundaberg, Roma, Mount Isa Airport
Singapore: Seletar Airport
RACQ LifeFlight Rescue: LifeFlight Australia is most commonly known for its subsidiary RACQ LifeFlight Rescue, which is a not-for-profit community rescue service utilising Rotary and Fixed Wing aircraft. The aircraft are generally staffed by a Pilot, Aircrew Officer, Flight Paramedic or Nurse and a Critical Care Doctor.[7] The naming rights sponsor is RACQ, a motoring club and mutual organisation, providing roadside assistance, insurance, travel, finance and other services.
LifeFlight Commercial: In close conjunction with Starflight, this is the commercial arm of LifeFlight and provides: Program management, Contract Management and oversight, Stakeholder engagement, Performance management, Support services (Ie: Finance/HR etc), Communications Media/Marketing.[8]
LifeFlight Training Academy: This is a training arm of LifeFlight which completes training of aircrews and doctors for operations in the aviation industry. Located at Brisbane Airport, the facility is home to Helicopter Underwater Escape Training (HUET), a full size THALES AW139 Simulator, indoor pool, VR Simulators - both Medical and Aircrew - as well as classrooms.[9]
LifeFlight Air Ambulance: The Fixed Wing arm of the fleet consisting of Bombardier Challenger 600 conducting domestic and international aeromedical missions. They are crewed by a Captain, First Officer, Critical Care Doctor and a Flight Nurse.[1]
As of October 2022, the LifeFlight Australia fleet consists of the following aircraft:
| Aircraft | In Service | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bell 412 EP | 3 | VH-XCI currently on contract to Rotor-Lift Aviation on behalf of Ambulance Tasmania. | [10] | |
| Agusta AW139 | 11 | VH-PVO, VH-PVQ and VH-PVR operated by StarFlight Australia on behalf of Victoria Police. | [11] [12] | |
| Eurocopter AS.350BA | 1 | |||
| MBB-BK 117 | 1 | |||
| Bombardier CL-600 | 4 | [13] | ||
| Total | 16 |