Turkey to expand medical helicopter fleet
The Turkish Health Ministry plans to introduce three more domestically manufactured rotorcraft to its fleet next year
Turkey’s Ministry of Health has announced plans to expand its fleet of medical helicopters, with the addition of three new Gokbey helicopters in 2026.
Eray Çinar, Director-General of Turkey’s Emergency Health Services, confirmed plans for the fleet expansion during an interview on public broadcaster TRT.
“Three new air ambulances from this series will be added in 2026, extending the reach and coverage of medical services across the country,” said Çinar. “These will be the first locally manufactured helicopters certified for civilian use, offering greater range, improved performance in various weather conditions, and increased patient transport capacity.”
He added that the helicopters, which will be manufactured by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAS), would also be equipped with night vision capabilities.
Turkey’s medical helicopter fleet are used for a range of operations, including emergency response, interhospital patient transfers, and organ transfers.
Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance recently added a new helicopter to its own fleet.
Oliver Cuenca
Oliver Cuenca is a Junior Editor at AirMed&Rescue. He was previously a News and Features Journalist for the rail magazine IRJ until 2021, and studied MA Magazine Journalism at Cardiff University. His favourite helicopter is the AW169 – the workhorse of the UK air ambulance sector! He also led the creation of Waypoint: The AirMed&Rescue podcast, serving as its Production Editor and co-host.