The Minister of National Defense, Nuno Melo, defended the purchase of four Black Hawk helicopters by the Air Force for medical emergency missions, highlighting that the measure represents a significant advance in the ability to save lives.
The Minister of National Defense defended that the Air Force took “a step forward” by acquiring four Black Hawk helicopters to help with medical emergency missions “because it doesn’t want everything to stay the same.”
“Once the problem is identified, we have one of two possibilities: either we do nothing, or we try to help. And the Minister of Defense defends the acquisition of Black Hawk helicopters for medical emergencies: “The Air Force takes a step forward”, because it does not want everything to stay the same. Because it wants to provide assistance. We know that there are also many people who want everything to stay the same. But we, in National Defense, are taking this step on the right side of History”, defended Nuno Melo.
The ruler and president of the CDS-PP spoke at the solemn opening of the Air Force Academy academic yearwhich took place at Air Base N.1 in Sintra, district of Lisbon.
Nuno Melo expressed confidence that “there will be many lives that will be saved because of this effort, another one, from the Portuguese Air Force”.
At a time when the suitability of these means for medical emergency missions has been publicly debated, Nuno Melo reacted to the criticism, rejecting having “some predilection for any type of equipment” since “he is not an expert in this matter”.
“We live in a country where everyone is an expert. Everyone knows everything. And, it seems, they know a lot about helicopters. And I confess that I don’t know”, he joked.
The governor defended that, in the decisions he takes, he is based on “technical opinions” and insisted that the The Air Force already carries out this type of missions in the Azores and Madeira archipelagos.
“I want to emphasize that the Air Force is now taking another step forward when it comes to this medical emergency. And it is doing so selflessly and selflessly, placing highly qualified and trained pilots, crew, doctors and nurses at the service of the Portuguese people,” he stated.
Nuno Melo then addressed himself directly to the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, General Cartaxo Alvesthanking the “commitment” e “spirit of mission” of the military in this matter.
The minister was reacting to the news from the Público newspaper which, citing the states that the four Black Hawks that the Air Force will acquire can only land in one of the seven hospital heliports authorized to receive medical emergency air transport, due to its length.
