New $26 million LifeFlight maintenance facility launched

LifeFlight will significantly increase its engineering capability following the official opening of a new $26 million maintenance facility – the LifeFlight Clive Berghofer Maintenance Centre – at Archerfield Airport in Brisbane. The facility, which spans 5000sqm and is the largest in LifeFlight’s network, was developed by Archerfield Airport Corporation. It is named in honour of LifeFlight supporter and philanthropist Clive Berghofer, who funded a training chopper for the organisation. LifeFlight will lease the facility as part of a 10-year service contract with Queensland Health and for LifeFlight’s other operational requirements. It is the largest hangar complex to be built at Archerfield Airport. Constructed by Space Frame, it will replace LifeFlight’s former maintenance facility built in the 1940s, which the organisation has outgrown. LifeFlight’s growing fleet includes 19 rotary wing helicopters and four fixed wing aircraft. The former facility was able to house up to four helicopters, while the new centre can accommodate up to nine helicopters and one jet. LifeFlight Australia Chief Operating Officer Lee Schofield, said the new facility was a key part of the organisation’s growth. “Every LifeFlight aircraft is rotated through the maintenance facility for major inspections as well as work that cannot be performed at other bases, making the LifeFlight Clive Berghofer Maintenance Centre the epicentre of our maintenance operation,” he said. He said LifeFlight engineers are an Approved Maintenance Organisation (AMO), providing five hours of maintenance per flight hour for each helicopter. In total LifeFlight performs more than 41,000 hours of scheduled and unscheduled maintenance on helicopters and jets each year. “Our helicopter crews completed more than 3,300 missions in FY24. That means a lot of maintenance is required to ensure the choppers are at peak operability so they’re ready to go wherever and whenever needed,” he said. “Fortunately, our engineering team has an outstanding reputation and their work ensures every LifeFlight helicopter and jet is safe and ready for flight, no matter the time or place.” Schofield said the new base would not have been possible without the significant support of Archerfield Airport Corporation, Berghofer and the Queensland Government. “The level of support from Clive, the community, Archerfield Airport and the Government, has been huge and puts us in a great position to continue to support the needs of regional and remote Queenslanders like never before,” he said. Berghofer, who has invested more than $7 million in LifeFlight since 2007, said he was pleased to see the new maintenance facility open its doors after 10 months of construction. “This is a vital cog in making sure the LifeFlight machine, which turns at all hours of the day and night, runs as smoothly as possible. I’m so proud of everyone for delivering this magnificent facility, which will ensure, as LifeFlight grows, that the maintenance team will continue to set the standard around the world.” Features of the new facility include four large bays to house LifeFlight’s AW139 aircraft and Challenger 604 jets with seven-tonne access doors, three three-tonne-plus cranes, offices, kitchens and showers for more than 30 staff, solar panels and tarmac for aircraft manoeuvring, landing, take-off and refuelling. Archerfield Airport is located 11 kilometres from Brisbane’s CBD and close to major hospitals. For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Matt Driskill at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Head of Sales Kay Rolland at [email protected]