The Ministry of Health will include the nationally developed Gökbey helicopter, produced by TUSAŞ, in its air ambulance fleet in 2026. Associate Professor Dr Eray Çınar, Director General of Emergency Health Services, announced that nearly 50,000 patients have been transported by air ambulances so far.
Türkiye is preparing to take a new step in emergency health services with capabilities developed domestically. The Ministry of Health will add the Gökbey helicopter, developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries Inc. (TUSAŞ), to its air ambulance fleet in 2026.
Associate Professor Dr Eray Çınar, Director General of Emergency Health Services, said in a statement: “Our air ambulance fleet will become even stronger with Gökbey in 2026.”
“50,000 patients served since 2008”
Recalling that air ambulances have been actively operating since 2008, Çınar stated: “In the first eight months of 2025, around 4,000 flight hours were carried out and 2,600 cases were transported. Since the day we began operations, we have provided health services to nearly 50,000 citizens with our air ambulances.”
Critical role from earthquakes to organ transplants
Çınar emphasised that air ambulances not only carry patients but also play a critical role in disasters such as earthquakes, floods, and multiple traffic accidents. Highlighting that helicopters also race against time in organ transplants, Çınar said: “Time is very limited in organ transfers. We transport both the organ and the transplant team with our air ambulances.”
A four-person specialist crew
Explaining that air ambulances operate with a four-person crew consisting of two pilots, one physician, and one healthcare professional, Çınar noted that all personnel undergo in-service training, just as they do in land and sea ambulances.
A new era with the national Gökbey
With the addition of the domestically developed Gökbey helicopter by TUSAŞ to the fleet in 2026, Türkiye will begin using a fully national aircraft in health services.
