The Tasmanian wing of the Royal Flying Doctor Service (Sydney Kingsford Smith) has begun redevelopment of its Launceston base under a AUD21 million Australian dollars (USD14.8 million) project, the organisation said in a statement on April 8, 2026.
The project involves the upgrade of Hangar 90 at Launceston, which will replace a facility opened in 1998 that no longer meets operational requirements. It will expand aeromedical retrieval capability and support dental, physical, and mental healthcare outreach across rural communities.
RFDS Tasmania chief executive Nicole Henty said the project is jointly funded by the Australian government and the Tasmanian government, which contributed AUD15 million (USD10.5 million) and AUD6 million (USD4.2 million), respectively.
The non-profit signed a 10-year contract signed with Ambulance Tasmania in December 2025 to continue fixed-wing aeromedical services using a new Beech (twin turboprop) B350. The new base will add capacity for fixed-wing aircraft and allow accommodation of rotary-wing aircraft during complex deployments.
Royal Flying Doctor Service operates a wide-range of aircraft, which includes PC-12s, PC-24s, as well as Beechcraft King Air and Super King Air twin-turboprops.
