Chery SA expands support for the SA AMS

By Rob Russell

On a chilly, and finally a sunny, Wednesday afternoon, the AMS held a function to announce the expansion of Chery South Africa’s (SA) support to its Western Cape operation. Chery SA through its dealerships in Kuilsriver, Stellenbosch, and George will serve as the official vehicle sponsor for AMS’s Western Cape operations.

The Air Mercy Service has come a long way since it started in 1966, with loads of enthusiasm and a Cessna 205 single-engine six-seater aircraft. It was the first and only voluntarily manned air service – the SA Red Cross Air Ambulance Service – in the country. Many of the volunteer pilots were well-known businessmen, doctors and members of the local flying clubs. It was managed by one Sister, working from the SA Red Cross offices in Wynberg.

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 twin-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”. However the growth of the service and more demands being made on it, required the Society to expand and a larger aircraft was acquired.

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. It was flown from the States by some of the volunteer pilots themselves.

Over the years the fleet has grown and so has the number of bases. It has evolved into a full-time operation, with six bases around the country, from Cape Town, Oudtshoorn, Qwebertha, East London, Umtata and Durban. The fleet now numbers eleven aircraft of which eight are Pilatus PC 12 aircraft and three Augusta Westland A119 helicopters.

The function was held at the AMS facility, in the General Aviation area, of Cape Town International Airport, on a somewhat chilly day. At least the sun made an appearance for the function, as well! Garth Moyes, Regional Manager of the AMS, Western Cape welcomed those present.

Farhaad Haffajee, CEO of the AMS then addressed the audience, saying that the AMS was grateful for Chery SA’s generous support and the crucial role they place in AMS’s mission. He went on to say that the partnership is a testament to the power of collaboration in advancing our life-saving work. With Chery’s vehicles now part of our fleet, AMS can significantly enhance their ability to reach those in need more efficiently and effectively. He finished by saying that this partnership not only strengthens our operational capabilities but also exemplifies how joint efforts can drive meaningful progress and improve access to essential healthcare across the Western Cape

After giving a summary of the history of AMS, he went on to say that the role of AMS in the health field has evolved from just flying ill patients to Cape Town to a three-role function.

These three roles are:

Air Ambulance service, flying patients to hospitals and also flying critically ill patients between hospitals, dependent on the services they require. The PC12 aircraft, primarily, fill this role
Technical rescues. This is the rescue of injured people from where they are injured and transferred to local hospitals. The Augusta helicopters are used in this role. It can be anything from rescuing lost hikers, injured climbers and people injured in serious motor vehicle accidents. The AMS has a vital role to play in this service, as due to budget constraints, the SAAF is often no longer able to provide this service.
Logistical support of local health services. This is the transfer of personnel and/or equipment to various health facilities, where they are needed. Whilst the PC12s are primarily responsible for this function, this is one of the roles in which the new vehicles will be able to greatly assist, when air services are not available.

Justin Willard, from Group 1, the holding company for Chery SA, then addressed the audience saying why they had decided to partner with AMS and believed that their support would greatly enhance the services AMS can offer. The vehicles will be able to build on their support in KwaZulu-Natal, where Chery SA has aided the AMS’s rural health outreach program.