PROTECTING THE FLEET THAT SAVES LIVES

Low Pressure Water Mist Fire Protection for LifeFlight's Aircraft Hangar in Australia

PROJECT OVERVIEW



When a rescue helicopter is grounded, lives are at risk, not just from the fire itself, but from every mission that cannot be flown. LifeFlight Australia operates one of the country’s most critical aeromedical services, running a fleet of helicopters that respond to life-threatening emergencies around the clock. Protecting those aircraft is not a matter of compliance. It is a matter of mission continuity.

Australia

LifeFlight's Aircraft Hangar

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The Challenge

Aircraft hangars present a uniquely demanding fire protection environment. High-value assets, aviation fuels, including Jet A1, and continuous operational pressure leave no margin for error. Traditional foam-based suppression systems, while common in aviation settings, come with significant drawbacks: chemical contamination, corrosive residue, lengthy decontamination processes, and environmental impact. For an operational rescue fleet, any downtime is measured in lives, not hours. LifeFlight needed a system that could suppress a fire rapidly and effectively, without grounding the fleet any longer than necessary.15

The Solution

VID Firekill’s Low Pressure Water Mist Hangar Solution was installed at LifeFlight’s hangar facility in Australia by LPG Fire, VID Firekill’s trusted local partner. The system uses only potable water, no foam, no chemicals, no PFAS, delivered through floor-embedded nozzles that remain concealed until activation. When a fire is detected, the nozzles rise from the floor and deploy a fine water mist precisely where it is needed. The system harnesses the fire’s own convective forces to draw mist into the core of the fire — absorbing heat, displacing oxygen, and suppressing it at the source. Using up to 60% less water than conventional systems, it reduces infrastructure demands, simplifies maintenance, and eliminates the corrosive residue that foam leaves behind. Proven through full-scale fire testing with real aviation fuels, Jet A1, diesel, and heptane, the system is designed to perform in exactly the conditions LifeFlight’s hangar presents.

“The LifeFlight project is one of the most meaningful installations we have carried out. It brings together everything our technology stands for, fast, clean, and effective fire suppression in an environment where failure is simply not an option. We are proud that our system is helping protect the aircraft that protect people.”
Alex Palle, CEO, VID Firekill

The Result

The system provides LifeFlight with robust, certified fire protection that prioritises both safety and operational continuity. In the event of activation, the absence of foam means no chemical contamination of the aircraft, no corrosive damage to surfaces and systems, and a significantly faster return to service. No flooding. No residue. Just effective suppression and minimal disruption, so the fleet can get back in the air.
“Installing the VID Firekill system at LifeFlight was a project we believed in from the start. The technology is a genuine step forward for aviation fire protection, cleaner, smarter, and far less disruptive than anything foam-based. The installation went smoothly, and the end result speaks for itself. This is the kind of work that makes the industry better.”
Karl Peek, LPG Fire Australia
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