Gama Aviation awarded SAS air ambulance contract

The Air Ambulance Service transfers patients living in remote, rural and island communities to and from hospital. As part of the ScotSTAR service it also provides air ambulance support to the specialist transport retrieval teams and responds to 999 calls in a Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) role.

Gama Aviation is the provider for the current air ambulance service contract. The new contract is due to commence in 2026 and will see the introduction of brand new, more capable aircraft that will replace the existing fixed wing and rotary aircraft fleet based in Aberdeen, Glasgow and Inverness. 

The new aircraft will have improved range and endurance which will reduce the reliance on re-fuelling requirements away from base locations.  In addition, the new fleet will also bring improvements in the carriage of bariatric patients and will during the contract improve the ability to operate the aircraft in poor weather. The new fleet will consist of 2 Beechcraft King air 360 turbo prop and 2 Airbus H145 D3s.

Kenny Mitchell, General Manager ScotSTAR, said: “We are delighted to announce that Gama has been awarded our Air Ambulance contract. This will allow us to continue to provide the best service to the people of Scotland, including those in some of the most remote and rural areas of the country.

“Innovation and sustainability were important considerations in the selection process, and Gama Aviation demonstrated that it is committed to working with us throughout the lifetime of the new contract to ensure services are delivered efficiently and effectively. Wherever possible, innovations within the aviation industry will also be incorporated into their service and this will deliver further improvements in efficiency, patient safety and experience.”

Marwan Khalek, Group CEO, Gama Aviation Plc said: “This has always been a strategically important contract for us, and we are immensely proud and delighted to have been chosen again for this critical task. Over the last four years we have focused on developing our Air Ambulance capability and this award is another landmark in the maturity we have developed in this area, particularly in the development of our design capabilities. I would also like to thank Textron Aviation and Airbus for their support and patience during the later part of the procurement process.”

Health Secretary Neil Gray said: “I am pleased to see the Scottish Ambulance Service have awarded the Air Ambulance contract to Gama Aviation - this is a vital lifesaving service which reaches all areas and islands of Scotland. The introduction of new aircraft will help to ensure the latest innovation and technology continues to further improve patient safety.”