A change in the base locations for Portuguese Air Force (FAP) helicopters, from Viseu to Ovar and from Évora to Beja, has raised concerns about emergency response times. According to a union representative, this relocation could compromise the speed of medical emergency responses, highlighting differences in arrival times from various locations.
The union representative, a professional pilot, questioned the Air Force’s sudden capacity to provide this service after previously acknowledging their inability. From next Tuesday, the Ministries of National Defense and Health have announced that medical emergency air transport will use FAP aircraft until a public tender gains approval from the Court of Auditors.
The Air Force has yet to respond to queries regarding the number of aircraft and medical teams involved in this interim solution, or whether they will operate from their current bases or those of INEM in Macedo de Cavaleiros, Viseu, Évora, and Loulé.
The union also suggested that the winning company might lack resources to provide four helicopters and trained pilots: “Training a pilot takes about a month and a half, plus two months for licensing. The first course started in June, so we anticipated this issue,” they explained. More pilot training courses are planned for August and September.
The government was reportedly warned three months ago about potential challenges in meeting contract demands related to available aircraft and pilot recruitment by Gulf Med, the winning company. An alternative company capable of fulfilling the requirements with four helicopters was suggested as a backup.
CNN reported last week that from July 1, only two emergency helicopter bases, in Macedo de Cavaleiros and Loulé, would remain operational, effectively halving the available resources. However, on June 5, INEM stated it had contingency plans should the new contract not commence as expected.
In early June, CNN revealed INEM’s market consultation, seeking backup helicopters for potentially two to four months, following a warning from the Civil Aviation Pilots’ Union (SPAC) about operational delays.
