Türkiye to add Gökbey Helicopters to air ambulance fleet in 2026

The Ministry of Health will include the Gökbey helicopter, developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAŞ), in its air ambulance fleet in 2026. Associate Professor Dr. Eray Çınar, General Manager of Emergency Health Services, said the air ambulance fleet will be further strengthened in 2026. Çınar recalled that they have been providing emergency health services with helicopter ambulances since 2008, stating, 'In the first eight months of 2025, we flew approximately 4,000 hours and transported 2,600 cases.' He noted that helicopters provide ambulance services not only for inter-hospital patient transfers but also in situations such as earthquakes, floods, and multi-vehicle traffic accidents. 'Since we started service in 2008, we have served around 50,000 citizens with our helicopter ambulances,' he said. Highlighting that helicopter ambulances also play a role in organ transplants, Çınar said, 'Time is very limited in organ transfers. We use our helicopter ambulances both to transfer the organ and to transport the transplant team.' Çınar stated that helicopter ambulances operate with a crew of four: two pilots, one doctor, and one healthcare personnel. He emphasized that helicopter ambulance staff receive in-service training, similar to those working in land and sea ambulances. Emergency Health Services General Manager Çınar shared that helicopter ambulances operate in 15 regions and added: 'There is no area in Türkiye that we do not cover. In 2026, we will strengthen our fleet with our locally produced, national Gökbey helicopters. The Gökbey helicopters, which we will purchase from TUSAŞ, will be the first civilian-certified helicopters. Along with Gökbey, we will provide this service with aircraft that have longer range, are more suitable for meteorological conditions, and have greater patient capacity. In 2026, we will reinforce our fleet with three Gökbey helicopter ambulances that have completed civilian certification to deliver this service even more powerfully.' Assoc. Prof. Dr. Çınar said helicopter ambulances operate from sunrise to sunset according to weather conditions, adding, 'After the arrival of the Gökbey helicopter, it may be equipped with night vision capability for operations in the dark. Currently, we provide this service with aircraft that fly at speeds of 200 kilometers per hour.'