The emergency medical helicopter based in Loulé has been inoperative since Thursday. It’s the second time, in just over a month. For now, there is no forecast of when the detected fault will be repaired. INEM says it will apply the penalties provided for in the contract to the company that operates these devices.
An alert on the device reported a failure in a part that rotates the propellers. Unable to fly, the new Airbus H145, still under warranty, will have to wait for repairs from the manufacturer. Gulf Med, the company that operates the helicopter, therefore does not know how much longer the situation will take to resolve.
INEM says that the medical team works at the Loulé base, a doctor and a nurse, continues to ensure the response through the emergency and resuscitation medical vehicle. This means that, in a critical transport situation, the patient will go to Lisbon by ambulance. Another alternative is activate the Évora helicopter, which thus covers Alentejo and the Algarve. In this case, you will have to expect an additional half hour flight to Faro.
Gulf Med, in a statement, regrets the situation, which it explains is beyond its ability to intervene. INEM has already warned that it will apply the penalties provided for in the contract and continue to work with the operator to ensure response is restored. There is an alternative helicopter ordered by Gulf Med, but There is still no deadline for delivery in Portugal.
The company responsible for the four helicopters serving INEM in Loulé, Évora, Macedo de Cavaleiros and Viseu says that the operational availability rate is 99% and which, between July and November, responded to 353 medical emergency missions in Portugal.
However, in just over a month, it is the second time that Loulé has had his helicopter inoperable. In November, the same device was unable to fly for three days. At the time, it was not a malfunction. When it was placed at the Algarve base, it didn’t have a piece with it, which took a long time to clear customs.
