Its primary focus was to provide transportation of critically ill and injured persons from remote areas where no adequate medical facilities existed.
It soon became apparent that a two engine aircraft would be required to cover the long distances to provide a more comprehensive service.
In 1971, with the assistance of Rotary District 935, which covered roughly the same area as the Cape Region of the SA Red Cross Society, funds were raised for a faster Piper Aztec "Spirit of Rotary I".
Able to accommodate four stretcher patients and medical attendants, the Piper Chieftain "Spirit of Rotary II" officially took off from DF Malan Airport on Saturday, November 27, 1982.
The demand at the time increased threefold with the Service being called upon to transport a larger percentage of "high risk" patients requiring sophisticated life support and monitoring equipment. To cater for this need, the Service was once again updated in 1988 with a pressurised Cessna Citation II Jet aircraft which was converted into an Air Ambulance with the latest medical technology.
In 1994, a trust was formed and the organisation adopted its present, all encompassing name - the SA Red Cross Air Mercy Service Trust.
The SA Red Cross Air Mercy Service has evolved over the past few years into a multi-purpose organisation with high tech capabilities to serve rural and metropolitan areas. Through the realisation of a national air ambulance network, safe and rapid aero-medical transport can be provided on a 24 hour basis throughout the country, whilst our partnerships with the provincial health authorities via the Flying Doctor and Health Outreach Service brings healthcare to people in the Northern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.
Flying High for More than Four Decades
Since 1966, the SA Red Cross Air Mercy Service has grown into a remarkable and unique aero-medical service.
Working closely with the provincial departments of health to assist with delivery of healthcare services, the AMS has flown 6,521,334 kilometres and transferred 12,849 patients via its fixed and rotor wing air ambulance service.
Its flying doctor and health outreach services has made healthcare available on a regular basis to 212,877 patients living in rural areas, since 1996 and 1998 respectively.
A |
1966 |
The Air Ambulance Service of the
Cape
Region
of the South African Red Cross Society was established. |
B |
1967 |
Cessna 205 aircraft replaced with a single engine Cessna 206 Super Skywagon. |
C |
1971 |
Piper Aztec ‘Spirit of Rotary I’ introduced. |
D |
1981 |
World First for
South Africa
- a flying heart is transferred from PE to
Cape Town
for transplant. |
E |
1982 |
A turbo-prop twin-engine ten seater Piper
Chieftain, the ‘Spirit of Rotary II’ takes to the sky. |
F |
1988 |
Maiden flight of Cessna Citation II Jet Aircraft, 'Spirit of the
Cape
'. |
G |
1995 |
A second Citation Jet Air Ambulance service is based in
Johannesburg
. |
H |
1996 |
The Flying Doctor and Health Outreach Service was launched in the
Northern Cape
. |
| |
1996 |
Maiden flight of the first Pilatus PC-12
aircraft. |
I |
1998 |
The Flying Doctor and Health Outreach Service was launched in
KwaZulu-Natal |
J |
1998 |
Nelspruit & Johannesburg FW AAS are withdrawn,
due to increase of private sector services. |
K |
2000 |
A Helicopter Air Ambulance Service was launched in the
Western Cape
at Cape
Town International. |
L |
2002 |
A Helicopter Rescue Service was started in the
Western Cape
at Cape Town International. |
M |
2004 |
Mpumalanga Helicopter Service started in Nelspruit. |
N |
2005 |
Emergency Helicopter Service established in
Southern
Cape
. |
O |
2005 |
Dedicated Emergency Medical Service established at Durban
International (fixed and rotor wing). |
P |
2005 |
Dedicated Emergency Medical Service launched at
Kimberley
Airport |
Q |
2005 |
Emergency Helicopter Service established at
Richards
Bay
Airport |
|
