RFDS Highway Airstrips
RFDS Roadside Airstrips: Lifelines in the Outback
Driving through outback Queensland, we started noticing something unusual—massive white markings painted across the road. At first, we thought they were oversized pedestrian crossings, but as we got closer, the words "RFDS AIRSTRIP" became clear. These weren’t just road markings. They were Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) emergency airstrips—lifelines in one of the most remote regions on earth.
Out here, medical help isn’t just around the corner. Hospitals are hundreds of kilometres away, and in an emergency, a plane might be the only way to get someone to care in time. That’s where these roadside airstrips come in. When needed, local police or emergency services shut down the highway, clearing space for an RFDS plane to land right on the road.
Seeing these airstrips in person gave us a new appreciation for just how vital the RFDS is. We rely on highways for travel, but for many people living remotely, these same roads double as runways that could save a life.
It’s a simple yet brilliant solution—using the infrastructure already in place to make remote healthcare possible. Next time we drive over one of these airstrips, we’ll remember the people who depend on them and the incredible work of the RFDS.
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