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Aeromedical services provider StarFlight has invested in three new Airbus H145 helicopters for its future Tasmanian operations.
The aircraft, which will perform missions for Ambulance Tasmania and Tasmania Police, are expected to enter service from late 2027, and will be based in Hobart. It comes as StarFlight prepares to take over the state’s EMS contract from existing provider Rotor-Lift.
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“This investment in the H145 helicopters represents a significant upgrade to our emergency air capabilities,” said Michelle Baxter, acting chief executive, Ambulance Tasmania.
“The multirole functionality of these aircraft will allow us to respond swiftly to a wide range of emergencies. We look forward to the enhanced service it will bring to our communities.”
The helicopters, to be deployed for aeromedical, law enforcement, and search and rescue missions, are expected to fly around 1,500 hours per year over the next decade.
Dennis Richardson AC, StarFlight Chairman, said the move demonstrates StarFlight’s “commitment to strengthening aeromedical and emergency service capability in Tasmania for the long term”.
“By partnering with Airbus and drawing on its proven support network in Australia, we are positioning StarFlight to deliver sustained reliability, innovation, and value to the Tasmanian Government and the communities we serve,” he said.
StarFlight was last month controversially awarded the Tasmanian Government’s $354 million, 12-year contract over Rotor-Lift Aviation, which has operated the Westpac rescue and Ambulance Tasmania helicopters in the state for around 25 years.
Rotor-Lift managing director Allana Corbin called the announcement “a devastating day that will spell the end of Rotor-Lift, put 37 Tasmanian jobs at risk, increase uncertainty for a core service and put the budget under unnecessary pressure”.
“We have flown 14,000 missions for Ambulance Tasmania and Tasmania Police. Every time a Tasmanian sees the Westpac helicopter, that’s our pilot and flight crew making sure it gets everyone there and back safely,” she said.
“Rotor-Lift could have continued operations for $200 million over 12 years – $150 million less than the awarded contract.
“It is totally misleading for the Government to claim that this service is cheaper when we can deliver the existing service, which has had no complaints over more than two decades.”
Dale Webster, secretary at the Tasmanian Department of Health, told The Mercury that StarFlight would offer a new fleet and new technology to the state.
“This new contract with StarFlight lifts our capability, it brings in new technology, it brings in additional capability, including winching of stretches from the ground, but things like that we haven’t been able to do in current helicopters over the last period of time,” he said.
“I want to thank Rotor-Lift for the last 25 years of service, it’s been a fantastic contract for us to have, but this lifts our technology, lifts our capability and takes us forward in a very special way.”
StarFlight, a joint venture between Fox Group Holdings and LifeFlight Australia, will begin Tasmanian services on 12 January 2026.
