Eurocopter’s EC135 will perform medical airlift duties throughout Turkey with a fleet of 17 helicopters to be flown by the Turkish Aeronautical Association’s THK Gökçen Aviation commercial arm, marking the latest major contract win for this twin-engine rotorcraft in the international emergency medical services (EMS) marketplace. 

Operations are to begin this August with an initial five EC135s, followed by a build-up to the full complement of 17 rotary-wing aircraft. The EC135 was selected for these life-critical services by the team of THK Gökçen Aviation and Saran Holding – which won a five-year air ambulance service tender from the Turkish Ministry of Health.