The government announced that from July 1, emergency air medical transport would be covered 24 hours a day by four Portuguese Air Force (FAP) helicopters, supplementing the service of two immediately available resources provided by the company awarded the public contract.
However, there is only one aircraft authorized to operate during the night.
During FAP celebrations in Figueira da Foz, Nuno Melo emphasized the Armed Forces’ commitment to medical emergencies and provided an overview of the resources available.
According to the minister, the Air Force currently has one helicopter in Beja authorized to operate between 5:00 AM and 9:30 PM, a helicopter and two airplanes in Montijo that operate 24 hours a day, and a helicopter in Ovar for the period between 5:00 AM and 9:30 PM.
Ovar will “soon have another helicopter capable of operating 24 hours a day,” he added, without providing further details.
“What the Air Force does is done with demand and competence, but also with experience. For many years, the Cross of Christ has crossed the skies of Madeira and the Azores,” he highlighted, referring to the emergency air medical transport in the archipelagos.
On Friday, Nuno Melo had already commented on the report, downplaying the news, emphasizing that the Air Force also uses airplanes and is “helping to save lives.”
“Anyone who might want to downplay what is truly so virtuous surely has some explanation. It is not in the national interest,” he lamented today.
