Gama Aviation has agreed to buy three Beechcraft King Air 360Cs equipped with a cargo door. Under a contract signed with Textron Aviation at the end of the Farnborough Airshow last week, the UK-based operator said it will take delivery of the turboprop twins next year and will use them to fulfill its contract for the Scottish Air Ambulance (SAS) service.
For more than 30 years, Gama has operated King Airs for the SAS, which is the only UK air ambulance service to be fully publicly funded. The service employs clinical staff, while Gama operates the aircraft, providing pilots and maintenance technicians.
“Our team worked closely with experts at Textron Aviation to spec the Beechcraft King Air 360Cs for our recently awarded contract in Scotland,” said Gama Aviation CEO Marwan Khalek. “Strategically, the KA360C hits the mark, providing good direct operating costs and flight performance with a highly scalable mission platform we will modify at Gama Aviation. The completed aircraft, on entry into service, will represent a substantial step-up in the provision of pre- and intra-hospital care for the people of Scotland.”
Textron offers versions of its business aircraft adapted for special-mission applications that also includes intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, aerial surveying, and flight inspection.