Did you know that for every hour of flight time, our helicopters require at least 5 hours of maintenance. And in the 2021-22 financial year, our RACQ LifeFlight Rescue community helicopters and Air Ambulance jets flew more than 4,500 hours. That’s a lot of maintenance! And our Engineering Department is responsible for all of it.
Our fleet includes one of the largest contingents of AW139 aircraft in Australia, along with three Bell 412s, a BK117 and four Bombardier Challenger 604 jets and we have maintenance bases from Tasmania to Singapore, as well as across Queensland, that operate 24/7, 365 days a year.
Based at our Heavy Maintenance Rotary Wing Base in Brisbane, Michael Dopking and Pete De Marzi are just two of the 45+ engineers who make sure our fleet is in tip-top shape and we recently caught up with them.
LFA: Firstly, can you tell us who you are and what you do here at LifeFlight?
MD: I’m Michael Dopking, but most people know me as Dopo, and I’m the Engineering Operations Manager here at LifeFlight Australia
PDM: I am Pete De Marzi, and I am the General Manager – Engineering & Maintenance.
LFA: How long have you been at LifeFlight Australia?
MD: Well, I came for a six-month gig after retiring from the RAAF after 40 years. That was six years ago!
PDM: Seven and a half years. I originally did a bit of contracting back in 2014 and then jumped onboard full-time in 2015.
LFA: What’s your favourite part of working here?
MD: For me, it’s the purpose behind everything we do. From the doctors and crews on the front line, to the engineers and support staff who make sure the aircraft are ready to go, 24/7/365. It really is just such a great team effort to make it all happen. So really, it’s being part of the LifeFlight team, especially our Engineering Team.
PDM: The service we provide to the community. Our team has such a broad spectrum of professions and abilities so we bring a lot of perspectives to what we do.
LFA: What’s something that would surprise us about your role?
MD: Well, my title might say Engineering Operations Manager, but it’s a lot more than just that. At Engineering, we often get tasked with projects at short notice so that keeps us all on our toes. The job is never boring, that’s for sure!
PDM: It’s not just Engineering!
LFA: Who or what is your strongest influence?
MD: My previous Commanding Officer in the Air Force was Sir Angus Houston. He was a farm boy who joined up to become a helicopter pilot and then became Chief of the Air Force. He taught me, and so many others, what real people and team management skills looked like.
PDM: Our team. I’ve worked in other organisations, but the team support we have here is second to none.
LFA: What energises you at work?
MD: Being part of the greater team, making the impossible happen, and helping to grow LifeFlight Engineering into what it is today.
PDM: Not knowing what lays ahead each day! It keeps you on your toes and means no two days are ever the same. Also working with and mentoring our junior engineers and knowing that what we do each day saves lives.
LFA: Where would we find you outside of work?
MD: You’ll find me jet skiing with my brothers around the coast and rivers of south east Queensland. My favourite run is the Brisbane River from Karana Downs to the Port. Smooth water and so much to see!
PDM: In the shed, building model engines!
LFA: What one superpower would you want to have?
MD: The ability to switch off! It’s not always easy in this job.
PDM: To predict the future.
LFA: Best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
MD: Don’t talk. Listen.
PDM: When you have an impossible task, break it down and just fix the problem in front of you.
LFA: What can’t you live without?
MD: My family. And coffee!
PDM: Family, good food and fine wine. Thank you, Pete & Dopo! We couldn’t do what we do every day without our team. If you’d like to give to LifeFlight to keep our crews in the air, please click here.
