LifeFlight Australia
Airborne EMS provider operates mixed fleet of Leonardo AW139 helicopters and Bombardier Challenger 604s.
By Rafael Henríquez
Managing Editor
At LifeFlight’s BNE (Brisbane QLD, Australia) base are (L–R) F/W Captain Mark Rootsey, FO Amanda Deed, COO Lee Schofield, GM of Engineering and Maintenance Peter De Marzi, and Head of Commercial Operations & Chief Pilot Jeremy Ovens.
Australia’s geography is unique, and so are its needs for life-saving airborne emergency medical services (EMS). For more than 4 decades, LifeFlight has been a beacon of hope in the state of Queensland, delivering essential aeromedical services across its vast and diverse landscape. To date, the company’s helicopters and jets have been a lifeline for more than 90,000 people.
LifeFlight began operating in 1979 as the Sunshine Coast Helicopter Rescue Service, and became known as CareFlight by 1992. Since then, it has grown into Queensland’s largest aeromedical provider.
The company introduced its first air ambulance jet in 2004 using a Bombardier Challenger 604, and integrated Leonardo AW139 helicopters in 2014.
Two years later, the organization rebranded to LifeFlight. Today, it operates as a critical partner to Queensland Health, providing doctors and nurses to other aeromedical services, including the Royal Flying Doctor Service and QGAir.
In 2024, a landmark investment by the Queensland Government secured the future of LifeFlight’s rescue helicopter operations, ensuring long-term reliability for communities in far-flung rural and remote areas.
Leadership with a vision
Chief Operating Officer (COO) Lee Schofield plays a critical role in ensuring the organization’s operational success. His professional journey has been anything but conventional. A lawyer by training, he transitioned into aviation through the legal path and eventually became CEO of Alliance Airlines, a prominent Australian charter operator.
When he joined LifeFlight, Schofield brought with him a wealth of experience in fixed-wing aviation, although he admits the rotary-wing and aeromedical sectors were new to him. “It’s been a good mix of adding some experience and learning some new things,” he says.
As COO, Schofield’s responsibilities are broad, encompassing everything from aircraft and base operations to coordinating with LifeFlight’s medical teams.
He spends much of his time moving between company bases, ensuring smooth operations and staying connected with his team. His leadership is a key part of LifeFlight’s mission to provide equitable healthcare to Australians.
LifeFlight General Manager of Commercial Operations Tyson Smith has a pivotal role in the organization’s success. With 13 years of experience, Smith has witnessed and contributed to the company’s growth firsthand.
Starting as an air crewman on helicopters, he worked his way up through various roles, including positions in the training academy, operations center, and jet unit. His diverse background has given him a unique perspective on the challenges and rewards of aeromedical operations.
Smith’s primary responsibilities include overseeing LifeFlight’s international and domestic retrieval jet network, as well as managing bespoke medical and aviation deployments for government contracts. “My main focus is the jets and making sure that we can do domestic and international retrievals efficiently,” he explains. His hands-on experience in the field, particularly his time as an air crewman, has been invaluable in shaping his approach to operational planning and growth.
Behind every successful aeromedical service team is a group of dedicated professionals who ensure that aircraft are safe, reliable, and ready to respond at a moment’s notice.
At LifeFlight, that responsibility falls on General Manager of Engineering and Maintenance Peter De Marzi. His journey with LifeFlight began more than 10 years ago, following a distinguished career that included 9 years in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and 15 years in the oil and gas industry in the Middle East.
De Marzi’s expertise in aviation maintenance and engineering has been instrumental in shaping LifeFlight’s maintenance operations. His passion for aviation maintenance is evident in his hands-on approach.
“I’ve always been intrigued by aviation and things that fly,” he says, “but my passion has always been in maintenance and engineering.” This passion has driven him to build a world-class maintenance program at LifeFlight.
At the heart of LifeFlight Australia’s lifesaving missions is Head of Flight Operations Jeremy Ovens. With nearly 30 years of experience at LifeFlight and its predecessors, Ovens has been instrumental in shaping the organization’s flight operations, ensuring that its fleet of helicopters is always ready to respond to emergencies.
His career in aviation began in Sydney NSW, where he trained as a pilot and started flying for Child Flight, a helicopter service dedicated to transporting premature babies to hospitals.
Ovens joined LifeFlight (then CareFlight) nearly 30 years ago, when the organization operated just one Bell 412 helicopter. Over the years, he has held various roles, including captain, head of training, and head of the LifeFlight Training Academy, before becoming head of flight ops.
Ovens’ dedication to LifeFlight’s mission is evident in his work. “It’s been an incredible journey,” he declares. “From flying missions to overseeing operations, I’ve seen the organization grow and evolve, but our commitment to saving lives has never wavered.”
Versatile fleet
LifeFlight’s fleet is a testament to its commitment to versatility and efficiency. The organization operates a mix of helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, each tailored to specific medical and operational needs.
Helicopters operated by LifeFlight include Airbus AS350s, Bell 412s, and MBB/Kawasaki BK 117s. In 2014, however, a fleet renovation began when the company acquired its first Leonardo AW139.
The company now operates 11 AW139s, and Ovens has played a key role in the fleet’s evolution. “The AW139 is our weapon of choice,” he explains. “It’s a versatile and reliable platform that’s perfectly suited for EMS.”
LifeFlight is in the process of strengthening its fleet, with 2 new AW139s delivered recently and 3 or 4 more expected soon. These new helicopters are part of a fleet replacement program aimed at ensuring that LifeFlight’s aircraft remain modern and mission-ready. “We’re not necessarily increasing the fleet size,” Ovens notes. “We’re replacing older aircraft with new AW139s to maintain our operational capabilities.”
The AW139s are equipped with state-of-the-art medical interiors, functioning as flying intensive care units (ICUs). “They’ve got all the oxygen, monitors, and equipment needed to provide ICU-level care in the air,” adds Ovens. This capability ensures that LifeFlight can handle even the most critical medical cases.
On the fixed-wing side, 4 Bombardier Challenger 604s provide long-haul EMS. These aircraft are equipped to handle a wide range of medical emergencies, from remote retrievals in the Australian outback to international missions. The Challenger 604 has been a workhorse for LifeFlight, serving as a top-tier air ambulance platform for international retrievals with full ICU support.
First Officer Amanda Deed has been on these long-distance aeromedical missions. “We flew commercial to Dubai to meet the Singapore crew there,” she relates. From there, both crews flew the Challenger 604 to Switzerland to retrieve a patient.
Deed continues, “It was an amazing experience, both from a flying perspective and from a medical point of view. What our whole team was able to achieve was amazing.
From the moment we received the job, our Communication, Coordination and Control Centre team (C3) worked tirelessly to ensure everything ran smoothly. Our doctors and nurses then ensured the comfort and care of the patient. We were able to deliver him back to Perth safely because we worked as a team.”
Smith also highlights the importance of maintaining a diverse and updated fleet. “We’re trying to keep it as condensed as possible, but we keep growing,” he says. “With the jets now over 20 years old, we’re starting to look at upgrading our fixed-wing fleet and what the next aircraft could be. But, for that, we need to balance cost, efficiency, and sustainability.”
Bases and operations
LifeFlight’s domestic operations are spread across Queensland, with bases supporting different services in Archerfield, Brisbane, Bundaberg, Cairns, Mackay, Mount Isa, Rockhampton, Roma, Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba, and Townsville. In addition, the company has a Challenger 604 air ambulance and medical crews based in Singapore.
LifeFlight’s BNE (Brisbane QLD) base, which serves as a joint rotary-wing and jet hub, is a key operational center of the company. BNE is home to key departments such as the LifeFlight Training Academy, while the maintenance facility is located at ACF (Archerfield QLD).
Each base is strategically located to provide rapid response to emergencies across a vast and diverse geographic area. “Queensland is a big state, and our bases are spread out to cover as much territory as possible,” says Ovens.
Smith emphasizes the importance of rapid response and efficient patient transfers. “We try to do a lot of training at Archerfield,” he says, “as it’s out of the main airspace at BNE.” Archerfield lies some 15 miles from BNE, and its less restrictive airspace makes it more suitable for training. This focus on efficiency and preparedness ensures that LifeFlight can respond to emergencies quickly and effectively.
LifeFlight’s success depends on the skill and dedication of its pilots and crew. The organization employs approximately 50 pilots and 50 aircrew members who work together to carry out missions.
Most missions involve a single pilot, an aircrew member (who operates the winch if needed), a doctor, and a paramedic. “It’s a well-coordinated team effort,” remarks Ovens. “Everyone has a role to play, and we rely on each other to get the job done.”
Maintenance and sustainability
As the head of engineering and maintenance, De Marzi oversees a team of approximately 100 staff, including 50 licensed engineers and 10 apprentices. His role is critical to ensuring that LifeFlight’s fleet is always mission-ready.
The organization’s in-house engineering team handles line maintenance and unscheduled repairs, while major maintenance events are outsourced to Bombardier’s service center at MEB (Essendon, Melbourne VIC). “We have a lot of control over the maintenance schedules,” notes De Marzi.
To manage the complexity of maintaining a diverse fleet, LifeFlight uses Gannet software. This comprehensive platform tracks flying hours, spare parts, maintenance records, manuals, and staff qualifications. “It’s a one-stop shop,” explains De Marzi. “If I want to look up a particular tail number and find out how many hours are left on the transmission or engine, I can do that from my desk.”
The software also facilitates efficient maintenance planning, allowing LifeFlight to stagger maintenance schedules and minimize downtime. De Marzi adds, “We don’t want to have everything down at the same time. Gannet helps us plan and keep our aircraft available for missions.” In addition, the system streamlines the parts ordering process, ensuring that engineers can request and receive the parts they need quickly.
LifeFlight’s maintenance facilities are a source of pride for the organization. The 5000-sq-m center, which features 4 large bays and can accommodate both helicopters and Challenger jets, reflects LifeFlight’s growth and commitment to quality.
Work environment and culture
LifeFlight’s success is not just due to its technical capabilities, but also to its positive work environment. De Marzi takes pride in fostering a culture of collaboration and support. “We have a fantastic work-to-life balance,” he says. “Everyone here loves what they do because we’re all invested in saving lives.”
The organization hosts regular team-building activities, such as monthly barbecues, to keep morale high. De Marzi continues, “We have a great culture. It’s quite easygoing, and everyone is here because they want to be.”
This supportive environment has contributed to high employee retention and job satisfaction.
Preparing for every scenario
Training is a cornerstone of LifeFlight’s operations, and Ovens has been deeply involved in developing the organization’s training programs. The LifeFlight Training Academy in Brisbane serves as the central hub for all training, featuring a Level D AW139 simulator. “The simulator is a game-changer,” says Ovens. “It allows us to train pilots for a wide range of scenarios without leaving the ground.”
Pilots undergo training in blocks throughout the year, focusing on areas such as instrument flying, night vision goggle (NVG) operations, and water winching. “We do a lot of NVG work,” explains Ovens. “It’s essential for night operations, and we make sure our pilots are proficient in using the equipment.” Water winching, which involves rescuing people from the water, is another critical skill that requires hands-on training with local water police.
Safety and compliance
Safety is at the core of LifeFlight’s operations, and De Marzi’s team plays a critical role in maintaining the highest standards. LifeFlight holds an Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Part 145 approval, which aligns its maintenance practices with international standards.
To reinforce this commitment to safety, LifeFlight hosts an annual Safety Day, where engineers come together to review safety practices and discuss any incidents. “We always keep talking about safety,” says De Marzi. “It’s our top priority.” This focus on safety has helped LifeFlight build a reputation for reliability and excellence in aeromedical services.
A commitment to equitable healthcare
LifeFlight’s mission goes beyond just providing aeromedical services – it’s about ensuring equitable access to healthcare for all Australians. As a charitable organization, LifeFlight reinvests profits from commercial operations into community programs, particularly in regional and remote areas.
“What really drives us is being able to provide quality healthcare to everyone, no matter where they live,” says Schofield.
This commitment is reflected in LifeFlight’s recent 10-year service agreement with Queensland Health, which requires the organization to expand its rotary-wing operations and add aircraft. “There’s an enormous amount of growth still to come,” continues Schofield. “That’s one of the reasons I joined – there’s so much great work going on.”
LifeFlight employs more than 180 medical professionals, making it Australia’s largest employer of aeromedical personnel.
Conclusion
Looking ahead, LifeFlight is focused on upgrading its fleet and expanding its capabilities. The organization is in the process of renewing its fleet with more Leonardo AW139 helicopters under a new Queensland Government service agreement, and is also exploring options for replacing its Challenger 604 jets. “It’s cool to be part of this transition,” says Smith.
While no new bases are planned, LifeFlight is investing in infrastructure and training to enhance its existing operations. The organization’s commitment to innovation and sustainability ensures that it will continue to play a vital role in airborne EMS for years to come.
With a fleet of helicopters and jets, a state-of-the-art training academy, and a team of dedicated professionals, LifeFlight will continue to set the standard for aeromedical excellence in Australia. Each year, the organization helps more than 8000 people, proving that no matter how remote or challenging the environment, LifeFlight is always ready to answer the call.