South African Red Cross Air Mercy Service
| |||||||
| Founded | 1966 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Cape Town International Airport, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa | ||||||
| Website | ams.org.za | ||||||
South African Red Cross Air Mercy Service also known as AMS is an air ambulance service headquartered at Cape Town International Airport with various bases in South Africa.
Bases
The SA Red Cross Air Mercy Service has bases at the following locations:
- Cape Town - Cape Town International Airport
- Oudtshoorn - Oudtshoorn Airport
- Durban - King Shaka International Airport
- Richards Bay - Richards Bay Airport
- Polokwane - Polokwane International Airport
History
The SA Red Cross Air Ambulance Service was started in 1966 with a single Cessna 205 aircraft to provide a service for the transportation of critically ill and injured persons from the remote areas of South Africa.
In 1971 the service acquired an additional aircraft, a Piper Aztec, nicknamed the "Spirit of Rotary I". The funding or this aircraft was achieved through the assistance of the Rotary Club. In November 1982 the "Spirit of Rotary II", a Piper Chieftain took off from the then called DF Malan Airport in Cape Town. 1988 the service acquired its first jet aircraft, a Cessna Citation II.
In 1994 a trust was formed and the organization changed its name to the present South African Red Cross Air Mercy Service Trust.
Fleet
The South African Red Cross Air Mercy Service fleet comprises the following fixed and rotorwing aircraft:
| Aircraft | In Fleet | |
|---|---|---|
| AgustaWestland AW109 | 1 | |
| AgustaWestland AW119 Koala | 4 | |
| Eurocopter EC130 | 3 | |
| Pilatus PC-12 | 7 | |
| Total | 15 |
External links
References
- www.ams.org.za