Gama Aviation wins £65m air ambulance contract

Gama Aviation has revealed the award of a seven-year, £65m contract from Wales Air Ambulance Charity (WAAC) to provide Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS).

Starting on January 1st 2024, the contract specifies the operation and maintenance of five Airbus H145 emergency medical service (EMS) helicopters, two of which will be supplied by the group. The main fleet of four helicopters will operate from the WAAC’s current facilities in Cardiff, Caernarfon, Welshpool and Dafen. These units will provide full nationwide HEMS coverage across Wales. The fifth helicopter will provide back-up for the maintenance downtime of the main fleet to ensure service continuity.

Gama Aviation plans to invest about £2.4m in deploying the requisite capabilities and other working capital requirements during the first half of this year to enable the service to start at the beginning of next year. The investment will be made from the group’s working capital resources and facilities. The two helicopters to be supplied by Gama will be procured under operating or finance leases for the term of the contract award.

Mark Smith, MD, Special Mission, Gama Aviation welcomed the contract win: “We look forward to working closely with the charity’s team as we stand-up the aircraft, flight, maintenance crews and other resources that are required to deliver this important, national, service.”

Marwan Khalek, group CEO added: “I am delighted that we will be partnering with the charity for the next seven years to support the important service they deliver to communities across Wales. This contract award is further evidence of the execution of our group’s focused growth strategy and marks another significant milestone for our Special Mission business unit in the air ambulance market.”

Last November Gama Aviation revealed it was the preferred bidder for the contract offered by the Wales Air Ambulance Charity, after a 16-month procurement process.