LifeFlight will significantly increase its engineering capability following the official opening today 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 organization. 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 organization 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.

Governor of Queensland and LifeFlight patron, Her Excellency the Honourable Dr Jeannette Young, AC PSM, said the center was a significant milestone for the organization.

“I’m proud to be the patron of LifeFlight, which has helped almost 90,000 people during its 45-year history with more than 8,000 in the past year alone. LifeFlight isn’t just an aeromedical provider, but rather a lifeline for our communities spread throughout the state. It makes a profound difference to the lives of Queenslanders in need.”

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 epicenter of our maintenance operation,” he said.

LifeFlight engineers are an Approved Maintenance Organization (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.

Archerfield Airport is located 11 kilometers from Brisbane’s CBD and close to major hospitals.