Story ID: 
Saudis Plan Nationwide Air Ambulance Service
By: Mark Huber
Caption: Saudi Red Crescent and The Helicopter Company team on national air ambulance service
Word Count: 179
The Saudi Red Crescent Authority and The Helicopter Company, fully owned by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), have signed an agreement for inauguration of the Saudi Air Ambulance Service in the kingdom. Service has been launched in Riyadh and will expand throughout the kingdom in several phases.

Signed by SRCA president Dr. Jalal bin Mohammed Al Owaisi The Helicopter Company CEO Arnaud Martinez, the agreement is geared to provide 24/7 air ambulance service covering both site work and hospital transfers. Expanding access to emergency medical care, particularly reducing mortality from traffic injuries, is a key component of Saudi Arabia’s “Kingdom 2030 Vision” initiative. 

The Helicopter Company was established by Public Investment Funds in 2019 as the kingdom’s first commercial helicopter operator. The company owns 17 Helicopters to provide air ambulance services, aerial works, tourism, and private transportation. Recently, it signed a purchase agreement for 42 helicopters, the largest purchase in the company’s history. Those orders include 10 Airbus H125 singles signed in 2020 and 20 five-blade H145D3 light twins and six ACH160 medium twins placed in 2021.