The Gulf Med Aviation Services (GMAS) helicopters have reached 1,000 flight hours under the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) of the National Institute of Medical Emergency (INEM) in Portugal. This milestone was achieved in just ten months of uninterrupted operation, with operational availability exceeding 98%, and represents, above all, lives supported across mainland Portugal.
Gulf Med Aviation Services began operations in Portugal in support of INEM on 1 July 2025, following an international public tender. The company currently operates a fleet of four Airbus H145 helicopters, providing coverage across the entire mainland territory. The service runs 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Operational figures as of 22 March 2026:
1,000 flight hours
639 completed missions
387 patients transported
Operational availability exceeding 98%
The 1,000th flight hour in medical emergency service in Portugal was reached on 22 March at 10:20 by the helicopter based in Loulé. This was a primary mission carried out in Alcoutim, in the Algarve region, providing medical assistance to a 49-year-old patient.
The aircraft crew consisted of Commanders Pedro Ivo (pilot) and Ruben Timmermans (co-pilot). The mission was completed at 11:07, when the helicopter landed at the Faro Hospital heliport.
“Our thousandth flight hour in Portugal is not just a number. Behind each hour are people who needed us, and whom we reached,” says Pedro Ivo. He also highlights the importance of teamwork, adding that “this result belongs to the pilots, the maintenance technicians, and everyone working behind the scenes to ensure each helicopter is ready to take off. We do this every day, in any condition.”
The importance of HEMS missions is also emphasised by Ruben Timmermans, who notes that “what makes this work meaningful is not just the flying, but knowing that every minute counts for patient outcomes and for the families waiting.” He adds, “that is what brings us into the cockpit every single day.”
A medically driven operator
Gulf Med Aviation Services is part of the Medilink International Group, a global provider of medical services in emergency settings. This foundation informs how the company plans and delivers every mission.
Alignment with INEM’s patient-centred and clinically urgent approach has contributed to the quality and consistency of service delivery, as well as efficient activation times. The helicopters operated by Gulf Med Aviation Services have an average response time of 3.9 minutes, reflecting the operational discipline required in medical emergency missions, where time directly impacts patient care.
“Reaching 1,000 flight hours in a demanding context such as medical emergency is the result of a strong commitment to this service, supported by dedicated and well-prepared teams, and the use of aircraft designed for this type of mission,” says Simon J. Camilleri, CEO of Gulf Med Aviation Services and Director-General of the Medilink International Group.
Gulf Med Aviation Services is an international helicopter emergency medical services operator, founded in 2016 and headquartered in Malta. The company holds EASA certification (AOC and Part 145) and operates HEMS services in Malta, Portugal, Ireland, and Spain.