site.btaTurkiye Expands Its Medical Helicopter Fleet with Locally Manufactured Aircraft

Turkiye’s Health Ministry is expanding its fleet of medical helicopters with new Gokbey models, manufactured by this country’s national aerospace company TUSAS, the state broadcaster TRT Haber reported.

“These will be the first locally manufactured helicopters certified for civilian use, offering greater range, improved performance in various weather conditions, and increased patient transport capacity. Three new air ambulances from this series will be added in 2026, extending the reach and coverage of medical services across the country. The new feature is that the Gokbey can also be equipped with night vision capabilities,” Director General of Turkiye’s Emergency Health Services Eray Cınar told TRT Haber.

According to Emergency Health Services data, during the first eight months of 2025, 2,600 patients were transported by air ambulance in Turkiye, with helicopters logging some 4,000 flight hours. Since 2008, when helicopters were first introduced into the Turkish healthcare system, more than 50,000 citizens in need of urgent medical assistance have been transported.

The air ambulances support hospitals during earthquakes, floods, and traffic accidents, as well as for inter-hospital patient transfers. They are particularly critical in organ transplant cases.

“For organ transfers, time is extremely limited. That is why air ambulances are essential for transporting organs and for transferring transplant teams,” Cınar added.

Each helicopter crew consists of four members -  two pilots, a doctor, and a paramedic. The teams undergo training for land-based and maritime operations. A total of 15 provinces in Turkiye are currently served by air ambulances.

“These helicopters in Turkiye can fly at speeds of up to 200 kilometres per hour,” Cınar said.