First five EC135 EMS helicopters delivered to Turkey

THK Gökçen Aviation has received the first five EC135s to provide medical airlift duties. The new helicopters will start operations in Turkey this month.

THK Gökçen Aviation and Saran Holding will deploy a fleet of 17 EC135 to ensure helicopter medical emergency services (HEMS) in the framework of a five-year contract with the Turkish Ministry of Health. The remaining helicopters will be delivered in spring 2014.

Olivier Lambert, Eurocopter’s senior vice president for Sales and Customer Relations said: “Turkey is a growing helicopter market and we are glad the EC135 continues to accompany the project of the Turkish Ministry of Health. With THK Gökçen Aviation we have gained an excellent partner to strengthen our footprint in this strategically important country.”

Eurocopter has been present in HEMS operations of the Ministry of Health in Turkey since 2008. A total of more than 1,100 EC135 have been delivered worldwide, and more than 500 of these helicopters are in the EMS configuration.

Photograph: Eurocopter EC135 © Copyright Eurocopter, Charles Abarr