SA Red Cross Air Mercy Service

The South African Red Cross Air Mercy Service Trust (AMS) is a charity that runs air ambulance, rescue and rural health outreach flights in South Africa. It is based in Cape Town. The site says it has operated since 1966. Type: non-profit air ambulance operator that flies its own aircraft.

Services

• Air ambulance: fast flights for critically ill or injured patients, as a complement to road ambulances
• Rescue: air-sea and air-mountain rescue by helicopter, with hoist operators, working with provincial health emergency services and groups such as the National Sea Rescue Institute
• Rural health outreach: flying specialists, many of them volunteers, and support staff to hospitals in remote areas

The AMS also acts as coordinator of the aeromedical and rescue service for the provincial health authorities where it works. It has ground support units in KwaZulu-Natal.

Aircraft

The fleet page names two aircraft types, both fitted with custom intensive care style medical interiors:

• Pilatus PC-12, a fixed wing single turbine aircraft with room for up to three stretcher patients
• AgustaWestland 119Ke and 119Kx helicopters, used for mountain and surf rescue, hospital transfers and emergency calls. The Kx model is set up for night vision goggle flying.

The AMS says it is licensed by the South African Civil Aviation Authority for air ambulance and charter operations. It says it provides 24 hour advanced life support air ambulance service.

Coverage area

The services page says the AMS provides emergency aeromedical and rescue service to the Western Cape, Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal. Outreach programmes run in more remote parts of KwaZulu-Natal.

Facts

• Type: charity air ambulance and rescue operator
• Provinces served: Western Cape, Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal