Key Stats Townsville: FY25
- 601 people helped from Townsville base (86% up on FY24)
- Townsville, Brisbane and Singapore jets helped 1,050 people (up 10.7%)
- 426 missions (up 5.2%)
- 2,494 flight hours (up 14%)
- 8,497 people helped across the LifeFlight network (up 3.9%)
LifeFlight’s Townsville jet base is celebrating a banner financial year after airlifting a record number of patients in FY25.
The Townsville aeromedical crew, marking 16 years in operation, airlifted 601 patients during the year – 86 per cent more than FY24.
It also flew 212 missions and clocked up 1,084 flight hours.
Collectively, LifeFlight’s four Challenger 604 air ambulances helped 1,050 people, a 10.7 per cent increase on the previous year including international repatriations and transporting patients domestically from regional centres to major hospitals in capital cities.
The jets contributed to another record year for LifeFlight with 8,497 people helped in the 12 months to June 30 – 3.9 per cent higher than FY24.
LifeFlight demonstrated increasing capability with complex long-haul international repatriations.
They included a mission in April to Ushuaia, Argentina – the world’s southernmost city known as the ‘end of the world’.
During this mission, LifeFlight flew 17,040 nautical miles to retrieve a male patient in his 70s with cardiac problems experienced during a cruise to Antarctica.
The mission spanned seven days and involved two full aeromedical crews as well as navigating multiple time zones and continents and some of the world’s most isolated airfields.
The Ushuaia mission was completed while LifeFlight was coordinating multiple international retrievals, including transfers from Pago Pago, American Samoa to Hawaii, and Suva, Fiji to San Jose in the US, all while continuing to support high-acuity domestic transfers across Queensland.
LifeFlight General Manager Commercial Operations Tyson Smith, said the year was a watershed moment in the organisation’s 21-year jet history.
“This year we’ve capitalised on years of experience to extend and deliver our services more effectively to more people,” Mr Smith said.
“The Ushuaia mission was our first visit to South America since 2008, but more importantly was completed at the same time as other long haul international missions.
“We’re one of a few aeromedical providers with integrated bases across two continents, with the capability to manage concurrent high-acuity patient transfers across multiple timezones and regions.
“We can do this because we have highly skilled intensive care medical teams and pilots backed by our team in C3 (LifeFlight’s communication, coordination and control centre) in Brisbane with extensive knowledge and expertise built up over decades of operations.”
Mr Smith said the record patient numbers were part of LifeFlight’s growth strategy.
“Airlifting more than 1,000 patients in a single year is a significant milestone enabled through our strong Queensland foundation. It’s something we’re proud of and committed to expanding so we can reach more people in need,” he said.
LifeFlight Medical Director Dr Jeff Hooper, said LifeFlight’s air ambulances were equipped with the latest in medical technology.
“The jet crews provide the best possible care in-flight whether that is stabilising patients or performing complex procedures mid-air,” Dr Hooper said.
“This rapid aeromedical intervention increases a patient’s chance of survival and is often the difference between life and death.
“It comes after our crews undertake intensive training at the LifeFlight Training Academy, which prepares them for any situation they may face.”
Dr Hooper said a key part of LifeFlight’s mission was developing and delivering free First Minutes Matter emergency trauma training workshops.
“This incredible initiative helps to build community resilience by giving participants the practical skills to manage life-threatening events such as motor vehicle accidents, farming incidents, stroke and snake bites.”
For more information on First Minutes Matter visit First Minutes Matter Program – LifeFlight.
