Swedish Air Ambulance orders six PC-24s


Following a lengthy selection process, the Swedish Air Ambulance Service (Kommunalförbundet Svenskt Ambulansflyg – KSA) has chosen the Pilatus PC-24 to perform its medevac missions. The Swedish public service organisation has ordered six PC-24s, with deliveries set to begin in 2021.

“We are very pleased to announce that we have completed our procurement of air ambulance aircraft, and to award Pilatus the contract,” said Annika Tännström, KSA chairman. “The fleet of PC-24 aircraft will allow us to fulfil the needs of all regions in Sweden in terms of air ambulance transports. We look forward to deliveries in 2021.”

KSA was founded in 2016, with the goal of providing medevac flights across Sweden. It is owned, and funded, by each of the 21 regions in the country.

As well as the pilots and patients, the PC-24 will be able to carry up to four medical professionals.

“By signing the contract with Pilatus today, Svenskt Ambulansflyg has passed a major milestone on the way towards establishing a national air ambulance with start of operations in 2021,” said Andreas Eriksson, CEO, KSA. “The performance and capacity of the PC-24, combined with the spacious and easily re-configurable emergency medical service equipped cabin, will allow us to conduct the required air ambulance missions safely and efficiently. We look forward to close and successful cooperation with Pilatus.”

KSA becomes the second medevac operator of the Pilatus 24. The Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) initially ordered three aircraft in 2014, with the first aircraft officially handed over in November 2018. RFDS later topped up its 2014 order with firm orders for three more aircraft.

“I’m delighted to see the first air ambulance organisation in Europe opt to buy the PC-24. The highly professional selection process confirmed that the PC-24 is indeed the perfect aircraft for medevac missions,” said Oscar J. Schwenk, chairman, Pilatus. “I’m also particularly happy that we managed to carry the day with our Swiss aircraft in a highly competitive market segment. We see further worldwide market potential for our PC-24 in this area.”

KSA says that the PC-24s will be based between Umeå Airport, Stockholm’s Arlanda Airport and Gothenberg’s Landvetter airport. It is currently establishing an operations coordination Centre at Umeå’s University hospital, in the northeast of the country.

The organisation acquired some of the equipment needed for the aircraft in 2018, when it took delivery of portable medical devices, including patient monitoring systems, defibrillators and an infusion system to provide patients with an intravenous drip.

  
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