‘Better aircraft with longer ranges’ being promised after Scottish air ambulance contract awarded - one of the new helicopters will be based at Inverness
New air ambulances with better ranges and performance are being promised after the latest contract to provide the vital service was awarded.
Gama Aviation, which is the current contract holder, has been awarded the Scottish Ambulance Service’s new Air Ambulance contract from 2026.
The country’s Air Ambulance Service transfers patients in remote, rural and island communities to and from hospital. As part of the ScotSTAR service, it also provides air ambulance support to specialist transport retrieval teams and responds to 999 calls in a Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) role.
Gama Aviation is promising to introduce “brand new, more capable aircraft” after the new seven-year contract begins. They will replace the existing fixed wing and rotary aircraft fleet based in Aberdeen, Glasgow and Inverness. The number of ambulance aircraft based at the three airports will remain unchanged.
The new aircraft will have improved range and endurance which Gama says will reduce the fleet’s 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 two Beechcraft King air 360 turbo prop and two Airbus H145 D3s.
Kenny Mitchell, general manager of 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 of Gama Aviation, 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.”
The contract will be valid for an initial period of seven years with a possible three-year extension and shall include a complete renewal of both rotary and fixed wing aircraft.
In addition to the four government funded aircraft, the service is supplemented by two helicopters provided by Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA); one at Perth Airport and one at Aberdeen Airport.
