The first of seven new Leonardo AW139 helicopters for LifeFlight’s growing fleet has touched down in Toowoomba as the Australian aeromedical organisation expands to meet soaring demand.

The new AW139 will be dedicated to the Queensland Health services contract, supporting an eight-strong fleet of AW139s across five fully funded LifeFlight bases in Toowoomba, Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, Bundaberg and Mount Isa. In 2023 the State Government committed to a $1.25 billion funding agreement over 10 years for LifeFlight’s Queensland helicopter operations, providing certainty that vital search, rescue and aeromedical services would continue.

The aircraft was manufactured by Italy-based Leonardo and transported to the LifeFlight Clive Berghofer Maintenance Centre at Archerfield airport in Brisbane where it was assembled by LifeFlight’s engineering team.

It is the most advanced aeromedical rescue helicopter in the world, with a maximum cruise speed of 305 kph and a range of 895km. The type is perfectly suited to search and rescue missions in Australia, whether out to sea, in the outback or winching in mountainous terrain.

LifeFlight chief executive officer Ashley van de Velde OAM, says LifeFlight’s investment in an enhanced fleet ensures the organisation continues to evolve: “Our challenge is to future proof our service at a time of strong population growth and increasing demand from Queensland Health to meet even higher standards of service to the community, bringing additional pressure on our fleet. AW139s can travel further and faster, which is critical to continuing to deliver the high standard of service and care that Queenslanders have come to expect from LifeFlight.”

Head of flight operations Jeremy Ovens adds that the AW139s provide a boost to capability at a time when the organisation is helping a record number of people: “In 2024 we helped more than 8,000 people, 11 per cent higher than the previous year, so having these helicopters means we can respond more efficiently when and where we are needed. I launched the AW139 simulator at LifeFlight and trained pilots to use the aircraft, and we know how capable it is, particularly with winch rescues or search and rescue operations.”

The new AW139 will be trialled in Toowoomba before operating out of the Sunshine Coast. It features new branding decals and indigenous art, reflective of LifeFlight’s commitment to its reconciliation action plan journey.

The Darling Downs region was chosen for the trial due to the high workload undertaken by the two existing AW139 helicopters in the region. This would enable the new helicopter to be put through its paces while simultaneously taking pressure off the existing fleet.

Toowoomba is LifeFlight’s busiest base, helping 871 people so far this year including 112 people in motor vehicle accidents and 27 people injured by animals.

Apart from the Sunshine Coast, the first intake of AW139s is bound for Bundaberg and Mount Isa, bolstering support for short-term deployments.

LifeFlight’s rotary wing aircraft operate across Australia 24/7/365, with nine servicing Queensland from bases in Brisbane, Toowoomba/Roma, Sunshine Coast, Bundaberg and Mount Isa. In Queensland the aircraft directly service an area of 1.85 million square kilometres and support search and rescue efforts across 53 million square kilometres of land and sea for the Australian Maritime Safety Authority.

LifeFlight has helped more than 90,000 people since its inception in 1979, when a single Bell 206 JetRanger launched on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.