LifeFlight and Leonardo partner to boost air medical rotary-wing services in Australia
The three-year, A$250-million agreement includes new aircraft and major investments in training and engineering facilities in Queensland
LifeFlight and Leonardo have announced a key partnership to enhance air medical rotary-wing services across Australia.
Combining the Italian aircraft manufacturer’s technological expertise with investments in engineering and training facilities is expected to significantly improve helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS), search and rescue (SAR), natural disaster response, defense, law enforcement, and surveillance across the country.
The A$250-million agreement will see LifeFlight become an authorized service center in Australia, able to deliver a range of maintenance and repair services for Leonardo helicopters from its 5,000m2 LifeFlight Clive Berghofer Maintenance Centre at Archerfield Airport in Brisbane, Queensland.
The facility will also support Leonardo’s service center in Melbourne, Victoria, and strengthen services for Australia’s extensive Leonardo fleet, commencing with the Queensland air medical network.
Meanwhile, LifeFlight’s Training Academy will become an accredited Leonardo Authorised Training Centre, further supporting pilots and crews to practice complex procedures in a controlled environment.
The first of seven new Leonardo AW139 helicopters for LifeFlight’s growing fleet touched down in Toowoomba on 19 December.
The AW139 is a highly capable air medical rescue helicopter, with a cruise speed of 305km/h and a range of 895km. It is well suited for SAR missions across Australia, including sea, outback, and mountainous areas.
Chloe Fox
Chloe Fox is an Senior Editorial Assistant for Voyageur Group, joining in 2024. She writes for AirMed&Rescue and ITIJ, covering a range of topics including international travel and health insurance, medical assistance provision, and air medical transportation. Chloe holds a BA (Hons) in English and an MA in English Literature from the University of Bristol.