Summary

• Brisbane Airport is building a groundbreaking air rescue area with state-of-the-art facilities for emergency aerial medical response.
• The new precinct will integrate various air ambulance services to ensure seamless patient care and transport, improving services for the people of Queensland.
• The facility is the largest multi-tenant property at Brisbane Airport and provides vital 24/7 aeromedical services to rural and remote communities.

Last week, Queensland’s Brisbane Airport announced that construction would begin on the new Aeromedical Precinct between the airport’s two parallel runways. The precinct will be the centre for Queensland’s emergency air medical operations and will accommodate 26 fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft.

A world first in Brisbane

In the 12 months to June 2024, the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) flew 4,611 patients to Brisbane Airport (BNE), while LifeFlight’s ambulance planes and helicopters transported 1,080 people in need. A new patient transfer facility will cater for people transferring between aircraft and ambulances within the precinct.

Conveniently located between the two parallel runways and quickly accessible, the aeromedical facility will include 18,700 square metres (201,000 square feet) of hangar and headquarters space, 17,800 square metres (192,000 square feet) of tarmac parking and parking for 450 staff. Brisbane Airport CEO Gert-Jan de Graaff pointed out the depth of the project:

“The scale of the Aeromedical Precinct at Brisbane Airport is unique in the world. This groundbreaking project will significantly improve the care available to Queenslanders who require urgent treatment in Brisbane.”

Around 18 patients are flown in and out of Brisbane Airport every day and will be transported via the transfer hub when the new facility is completed in late 2026. Currently, RFDS, LifeFlight and other emergency services are spread across the airport and will be consolidated in the new precinct.

An important service at ESD

The facility will integrate and consolidate medical recovery and transport from air, as well as clinical and logistical coordination, including statewide telemedicine and education support to rural and remote hospitals. The AU$217 million ($145 million) centre will be the largest multi-tenant building to be built by Brisbane Airport and de Graaff said he was delighted that its sole purpose is to serve the people of Queensland in all corners of the state.

“Brisbane Airport provides a vital 24/7 connection to Queenslanders in regional, rural and remote communities who require urgent medical care. We would like to thank the Queensland Government for its strong support of the Air Ambulance Precinct.”

The Royal Flying Doctor Service provides care to more than 330,000 Australians each year, including air ambulance, primary and preventive healthcare, telemedicine and mental health services. The RFDS network includes more than 2,000 airstrips across Australia, many of which are used regularly and others exclusively for medical visits.

The RFDS uses five types of aircraft for its aeromedical operations, including the Pilatus PC-12 and PC-24, the King Air B350 C and B200 C, and the Beechcraft King Air 360CHW turboprops. The service has a growing fleet of more than 80 aircraft, and each one must undergo extensive refits after purchase to ensure it is ready for any emergency.

For example, the Pilatus PC-12 is equipped with two berths and three seats that can be used in various configurations. The front door allows the pilot to carry out pre-flight inspections and enter the aircraft without disturbing the medical staff and patients in the rear of the aircraft.

The cockpit is designed for single-pilot operation in all weather conditions. Instrumentation includes enhanced ground proximity warning and navigation systems, as well as GPS systems and data displays from ground-based navigation aids. A flight nurse is normally present on each flight, and a doctor when required.

LifeFlight is a Queensland-based global leader in air ambulance services, operating both fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft. The company has four medically configured Challenger 604 jets on call 24/7 from bases in Brisbane, Townsville and Singapore. It also operates a fleet of 11 rescue helicopters, including seven AW139s, three B412s and one BK117. Two of the AW139s are in service under contract with a consortium of gas companies.

The Aeromedical Precinct is aiming for 5-star Green Star accreditation and features a 400kW solar array. There will also be a cafe for the over 400 people working there and around 150 people will be employed on site during the construction phase.