Four state-of-the-art Airbus H145 helicopters are operational 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, at bases in Loulé, Évora, Viseu and Macedo de Cavaleiros, Portugal. Since 1 November, the complete deployment planned for the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) of the National Institute of Medical Emergency (INEM) has been in operation.
This milestone represents the realisation of one of the most challenging and complex projects ever undertaken by Gulf Med Aviation Services. This operation required the mobilisation of extraordinary human, material and financial resources within an extremely compressed timeframe.
An Enormous Challenge
The preparation for this operation involved logistical, regulatory and operational challenges of a level rarely seen in the European aeromedical aviation sector. In just a few months – between June and November 2025 – Gulf Med Aviation Services certified 33 pilots for the Airbus H145 helicopters – a number that will increase further in the coming weeks – rigorously fulfilling all requirements of European aeronautical regulations.
This certification process is, for good reasons, rigorous and demanding. Each pilot underwent approximately 60 hours of theoretical training and 26 to 30 hours of flight time – both day and night – with a certified partner organisation in Europe. The entire process can take between five to eight weeks per pilot.
When this process is multiplied by more than 30 pilots over a period of just a few months, whilst simultaneously maintaining operations in other European geographies where Gulf Med provides services, the true scale of the logistical and operational challenge faced by the team becomes clear. A challenge successfully overcome.
Safety Above All
Throughout this process, Gulf Med Aviation Services maintained one absolutely non-negotiable principle: operational safety would never be compromised, regardless of time pressure or any other consideration. As a responsible company, Gulf Med Aviation Services never places any commercial consideration ahead of operational safety.
Every stage of the certification process was fully completed. Every risk assessment was conducted with the rigour required by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). Every safety procedure was implemented without exception.
This approach is not merely a matter of regulatory compliance – it is a fundamental part of Gulf Med Aviation Services’ DNA. Safety is the pillar upon which the entire organisational culture of the company rests, implemented at the highest levels of management and disseminated throughout the organisation.
The Three Pillars of Our Mission
Gulf Med Aviation Services’ operation in Portugal is founded on three fundamental pillars. These pillars define the company’s commitment to INEM and, above all, to Portuguese citizens:
Safety
The implementation of the most rigorous safety and maintenance protocols, in scrupulous compliance with European aeronautical regulations, constitutes the foundation of all operations. Gulf Med Aviation Services has implemented a comprehensive safety management system that includes preventive maintenance that goes far beyond minimum regulatory requirements, continuous crew training, pre-mission risk assessment for each type of operation, transparent occurrence reporting system and regular audits.
The safety of teams on board – pilots, INEM doctors and nurses – as well as transported patients, is and always will be the company’s absolute priority. This principle supersedes any commercial or operational considerations.
Operability
Guaranteeing permanent availability of aerial resources is crucial for an effective medical emergency service. Gulf Med Aviation Services has implemented optimised processes that minimise aircraft downtime and ensure immediate response to INEM’s needs.
In addition to the four operational Airbus H145 helicopters at the bases, the company will maintain a fifth aircraft in Portuguese territory. This helicopter will be dedicated to the reserve function, allowing rapid replacement in case of maintenance needs or any unavailability situation.
Careful planning of preventive maintenance, staggered to avoid overlapping periods of inactivity, combined with Gulf Med Aviation Services’ capacity to mobilise additional resources, will seek to minimise service interruptions. Operational robustness is further reinforced by the fact that the company has 33 certified pilots – soon 36 – allowing adequate management of crew rest periods.
Mission
Gulf Med Aviation Services maintains an unwavering commitment to HEMS’ primary objective: saving lives. This commitment is realised through service provision with speed, efficiency and humanisation.
As a company of the Medilink International group, Gulf Med Aviation Services has in its DNA the provision of healthcare in emergency contexts. This origin gives the company unique knowledge and understanding of the specific requirements of transporting critically ill patients, the needs of medical teams on board and the importance of every operational detail when every second counts in saving a life.
Technology in the Service of Life
The four Airbus H145 helicopters that Gulf Med Aviation Services has placed at INEM’s service represent cutting-edge technology in the service of aeromedical aviation. These aircraft were specifically designed for medical emergency operations, offering characteristics that directly improve the capacity to save lives:
- Reaction time: capacity to be airborne in approximately two minutes after mission activation
- Compact dimensions: allowing access to confined landing sites as close as possible to the patient
- Facilitated stretcher loading: through rear clamshell doors, facilitating patient comfort and safety
- Spacious and unobstructed cabin: facilitating patient access and treatment during flight
- Approval for in-flight defibrillation: enabling critical care during transport
- Smoothness of flight: the smoothest helicopter in its class, facilitating high-quality patient care
- Advanced systems: with Helionix® avionics, four-axis autopilot and Fenestron® tail rotor that reduces risks in confined areas
- Sustainability: low acoustic footprint (the quietest in its class) and CO2 emissions amongst the lowest on the market
Partnership with INEM
Gulf Med Aviation Services is fully aware of the prestige and importance of INEM’s HEMS in Portugal, justly considered the “crown jewel” of Portuguese pre-hospital medical emergency services. It is with a heightened sense of responsibility that the company proposes to collaborate in this vital service for the population, having been the winner of an international public tender concluded just a few months before operations began.
Coordination with INEM is fundamental to operational success. INEM’s Emergency Patient Guidance Centres continue to be responsible for triage and decisions regarding helicopter activation. Medical teams on board are entirely composed of INEM doctors and nurses, maintaining the clinical protocols defined by the institution.
Gulf Med Aviation Services is responsible for the aeronautical component: provision of aircraft, technical crews (pilots) and maintenance. This clear separation of responsibilities, combined with fluid and transparent communication, allows service efficiency to be maximised.
Long-term Vision and an Investment in the Future
The completion of the full operational deployment marks not the end, but the beginning of a journey. Gulf Med Aviation Services’ ambition extends far beyond merely operating helicopters.
More importantly still, Gulf Med Aviation Services is strongly committed to continuous service improvement. The sharing of international best practices with INEM, systematic analysis of operational data to identify optimisation opportunities and continuous crew training are permanent priorities.
Gulf Med Aviation Services’ investment in Portugal amounts to 40 million euros for the acquisition of the four Airbus H145 helicopters alone, demonstrating the company’s long-term commitment to service quality in national territory.
But the commitment to this operation extends far beyond equipment: the company is investing extraordinary resources in crew certification, operational base preparation and maintenance structures that guarantee maximum operational availability.
In the Service of Citizens
Above all, Gulf Med Aviation Services’ focus is on the people it serves: citizens who, in the worst moments of their lives, need a rapid, safe and professional response.
Each flight represents a commitment to the lives of patients being assisted. Every minute counts. Every detail matters. And this is the spirit that drives all Gulf Med Aviation Services professionals – passion for what they do and total alignment with the mission of saving lives.
The completion of the full deployment for INEM’s HEMS is, therefore, more than an operational milestone. It is the realisation of a commitment undertaken with seriousness, rigour and determination. It is the demonstration that it is possible to face extraordinary challenges without compromising what is truly essential: the safety and quality of service provided to Portuguese citizens.
Here we share with you a video produced by INEM, marking this important milestone for HEMS in Portugal: Helicopter Emergency Medical Service INEM | 2025. To all those who were committed to this extraordinary challenge, our thanks.