Banana Shire Council has installed new highly efficient LED lighting at Thangool Aerodrome to increase safety and help support vitally important services like the Royal Flying Doctors Service (RFDS). At a cost of $133,075, Queensland Government’s Works for Queensland Funding Program (W4Q) proudly financed the upgrade, building from the infrastructure upgrades that were completed in 2018.

Thangool Aeordrome currently experiences about 18 landings per week of passenger, freight and charter flights. Importantly, the Royal Flying Doctors Service (RFDS) also uses the Aerodrome, providing life-saving emergency flights across the Banana Shire and beyond.

Mayor of Banana Shire Council Nev Ferrier says the improved lighting will enhance the safety of the Aerodrome and be a benefit for the whole community. “Our community relies on the services of the Royal Flying Doctors Service and thanks to the W4Q funding, the safety is enhanced at Thangool Aerodrome for these services landing at night,” said Mayor Nev Ferrier.

“Thangool Aerodrome recorded 85 RAFD flights landing in Thangool last year,” added Mayor Ferrier.

The project commenced in 2018 and included the removal of all runway, threshold, taxiway, apron and windsock lights and replacing them with LED airport lights. Banana Shire Council chose the energy efficient LED lights due to their high efficiency and energy-saving capability. “Apart from being extremely visible, the LED’s are up to 80 per cent more efficient and can last up to ten years,” added Mayor Ferrier. 

The Aerodrome is located ten minutes from the city centre of Biloela and has the capacity for increased flights in and out of Thangool. The current flight time from Brisbane to Thangool is one hour.