General News
11 November, 2025
New LifeFlight helicopter to be a game-changer for the region
The AW139 brings a massive upgrade in range to better service North West Queensland.
Mount Isa will officially welcome a major upgrade to its emergency response capability this week, with LifeFlight’s new AW139 helicopter set to touch down on Thursday – a machine capable of flying further, faster and safer than anything the region has seen before.
The twin-engine aircraft can travel nearly 900 kilometres, reach speeds of more than 300km/h, and carry multiple patients and medical crew in all conditions.
North West LifeFlight Regional Advisory Committee chair John Wharton said the new helicopter would be transformative.
“It’s a big game changer for the North West with regard to first responders,” he said.
“It’s going to be fantastic because of the kilometres they have to travel up here. The (current) one was great – it was the first step. But we’ve been pushing for this for a little while.”
Cr Wharton said former Mount Isa mayor and advisory committee chair Tony McGrady deserved recognition for his advocacy.
“I’ve got to recognise Tony. He did a great job getting this to where it is, and he lobbied strongly over the last few years,” he said.
“I was on the board with him as the deputy chair and I’m now the chair. He’s retired but did a great job getting this helicopter up here.
"Another thing exciting about it, too, Alex Dorr is going to fly it up.”
For Mr Dorr, who helped create Mount Isa’s original rescue helicopter service in 2007, the AW139's arrival is the realisation of a dream that took years of persistence.
“It’s been a long-term investment, but LifeFlight has been able to take that base and that operation and let it reach its full potential," he said.
Cr Wharton said the AW139 would be a lifesaver for remote towns and stations.
“If someone breaks a leg in Richmond now, they’ve got to get the (Royal Flying Doctor Service) to fly them to Townsville or Mount Isa,” he said.
“Sometimes the Flying Doctor is very busy doing something else and they might have to wait six, seven hours or even a day to get picked up. This is a great backup.
“That helicopter can do everything that the Flying Doctor can do. I mean, it’s got all the stuff in it – it’s like an emergency centre."
Mr Dorr said the AW139 would provide unprecedented coverage across the North West and the Gulf.
“When you look at the range ring and you start having a look at it with a 139 in Mount Isa and then one in Townsville, Cairns ... the overlapping that we now have with an aircraft that is on par with everything that is used worldwide – you are going to be getting in Mount Isa the absolute top of the range,” he said.
“The capability that’s going to come with it and where it can cover and overlap and support – I think everyone’s going to be very suitably impressed.”
Cr Wharton said the benefits would stretch far and wide.
“It can go to Mornington Island in one hit, you know, from Mount Isa to Mornington Island,” he said.
“They will be going into the Northern Territory and saving lives. Basically, we’re saving lives in northern Australia.”
The new helicopter will be based at the new aeromedical hub alongside the Royal Flying Doctor Service, improving coordination between emergency providers.
Mr Dorr said he was excited to personally deliver the new machine on Thursday.
“Once the helicopter’s up there, I’ll also be able to come up and fly in the Mount Isa region again, which I’m very excited about.”