Last year marks record for RACQ LifeFlight Rescue jets

"We continue to see a significant increase in activity for our Townsville jet operation. In 2019, we saw 233 people helped by the service and, in the past year, we've seen that figure jump to 341," said LifeFlight Commercial Director Tim McGuire. “That’s almost a 50-per-cent increase from 2019.” 

In 2020, RACQ LifeFlight Rescue Air Ambulance jets completed 486 critical missions, of these, 341 were undertaken by the Townsville-based service. In the past year, LifeFlight’s jet fleet underwent a major expansion, adding three Challenger 604 aircraft to its fleet.

"Townsville has become a lot busier, it means that we do a lot of the long-distance, high-acuity jobs,” RACQ LifeFlight Recue Flight Nurse Michelle Black said.

Challenger 604 is longest-range jet in Australia

"The Challenger 604 aircraft is the longest-range aeromedical jet available for immediate emergency deployment in Australia," RACQ LifeFlight Rescue Air Ambulance Pilot Anthony McKenna added. "The aircraft can fly to regional areas across Queensland and bring those people who may need a higher level of medical care, to the major centres such as Townsville, Cairns, Mackay and Brisbane. "

The aeromedical fleet was also heavily involved in the Queensland Government’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Three RACQ LifeFlight Rescue Air Ambulance jets were exclusively on standby, if needed, to airlift suspected or confirmed coronavirus and other patients from Queensland regional centres, under a specialized agreement with the State Government,” McGuire said.

RACQ continued to provide care throughout pandemic

Despite the devastation of a global pandemic, RACQ LifeFlight Rescue’s Air Ambulance jets continued to provide world-class aeromedical care to those in need, across Queensland and around the world. One of the most high-profile missions in 2020, was the tasking of the two Townsville jets, as part of the aeromedical fleet, which airlifted injured workers after an explosion at a Moranbah mine.

“It means a lot to us in Townsville, to provide this service and to know that we are making a difference, helping save and change lives,” McKenna said.

The Australian rescue service’s Bell 412 helicopter flew 164,000km and 631 missions in 2020 – that’s an average of nearly two missions a day flying more than 449km for RACQ CQ to help save lives across Central and North Queensland.