Jandakot upgrades in flight

The state government has announced a runway extension at Jandakot Airport to support the Royal Flying Doctor Service and turned the first sod for a new medical laboratory in Jandakot Business Park.

The 500-metre extension to a runway at Jandakot will allow the Royal Flying Doctor Service’s new high-performance aircraft, the Rio Tinto LifeFlight PC-24 jets, to take off and land during more challenging weather conditions.

The RFDS took possession of the aircraft in February after a state government contribution of $6.5 million through Lotterywest and funding from Rio Tinto and the federal government.

Jandakot Airport is the sixth busiest civilian airport in Australia, according to Airservices Australia.

Additionally, the first sod was turned at the site of a new Western Diagnostic Pathology central laboratory that will be built at Jandakot Business Park.

The will include an automated serum work area similar to a recent addition at Sydney's central laboratory, which was the first of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, according to the government.

The Jandakot facility will replace Western Diagnostic Pathology's ageing central laboratory in Myaree and is expected to be operating in early 2021.

Health Minister Roger Cook said Jandakot Airport was one of Australia's busiest airports and the pathology centre would set the area up for the future. 

“I welcome these airport upgrades that will benefit all pilots and the Royal Flying Doctor Service,” he said.

"I'm pleased to see Western Diagnostic Pathology invest in a new laboratory at Jandakot Business Park and I look forward to seeing its state-of-the-art technology in action in 2021."

RFDS WA chief executive Rebecca Tomkinson will be speaking at a Business News Success & Leadership Breakfast on November 29.

Ms Tomkinson will discuss transformation, innovation and business continuity during deep organisational change.

More details can be found about the event here by clicking on this link.