Making the best of yet another hitch in INEM medical emergency cover, the entity has announced that the Algarve-based helicopter in Loulé is “temporarily inoperable” – ‘while assuring that the team assigned to that Algarve base “remains fully operational”, providing assistance through a Medical Emergency and Resuscitation Vehicle (VMER).
According to a statement released by INEM (National Institute of Medical Emergency), the helicopter is out of service “due to a technical fault identified by the operator.”
INEM adds that the helicopter is recent and within the manufacturer’s warranty period – “with the manufacturer being solely responsible for the necessary intervention and repairs.”
This is just the latest hiatus involving helicopters operated by Gulf Med Aviation Services (GMAS) – a company based in Malta that ‘won’ the tender to supply INEM with emergency medical helicopters last year but was unable to ‘deliver’ on time.
INEM stresses that it is “constantly monitoring the situation,” and ‘demands’ that GMAS “immediately adopt all necessary measures to ensure the restoration of operational capacity in the shortest possible time.”
GMAS, also in a statement, has said the aircraft – an Airbus H145 – had less than one hundred flight hours at the time of entry into service, explaining that the resolution of the technical issue “can only be carried out by the manufacturer, since the aircraft is still covered by the manufacturing warranty.”
Lamenting the situation, which it says is “beyond its capacity to intervene,” GMAS states that it is “making every effort within its power to ensure that the manufacturer intervenes as quickly as possible.”
The emergency medical helicopter in Loulé is one of four that began operating 24/ 7 last month after a four-month delay.
In addition to the aircraft based in Loulé, the new emergency helicopter transport contract awarded to GMAS provides for emergency helicopters based in Macedo de Cavaleiros, Viseu and Évora, ensuring air coverage 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The international public tender that awarded INEM’s contract to GMAS (for approximately €77 million) stipulated that the four helicopters would begin operating on July 1, which did not happen. There was then a moment where INEM “proceeded with a direct agreement” with GMAS (essentially offering more money to provide helicopters that the company said it could not provide under the terms of the original contract). This direct agreement was rejected by the Court of Auditors – on the basis that GMAS was not acting in good faith. (GMAS has said it will proceed with legal action against the Portuguese state…)
All in all, this unhappy saga means the Algarve is (yet again) compromised by not having an emergency medical helicopter ‘standing by’ for eventualities in the region.
Source material: LUSA
