Canary Islands' third medical helicopter to be deployed in Fuerteventura in March
The aircraft will be operational 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and will feature advanced medical equipment.
The Health Minister of the Canary Islands Government, Esther Monzón, announced in the plenary session of the Canary Islands Parliament that the permanent deployment of the third medical‑helicopter, based on the island of Fuerteventura, is scheduled for March. She emphasized that this new resource represents “a very important step for strengthening urgent medical transport services” across the autonomous community.
Monzón added that the addition became possible thanks to a newly awarded service contract worth €39 million. In addition to the third helicopter, the agreement includes an upgrade of the medical equipment for the entire aerial fleet.
Planned Improvements
- High‑flow pediatric and neonatal oxygen therapy
- Portable blood‑analysis devices for on‑board testing
- Infusion pumps to enhance treatment during transport
These upgrades are expected to shorten response times and boost the level of care provided during evacuations.
Permanent Operativity
The third helicopter will operate around the clock, every day of the year, with its base in Fuerteventura, which serves the health area of the eastern islands and has a hospital‑compatible helipad. This location will improve aerial coverage for emergencies occurring in Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, and Gran Canaria, helping meet established response‑time targets, especially in cases of high clinical complexity and urgent interventions that require rapid transport.
The crew will mirror that of the existing two aircraft, consisting of a pilot and co‑pilot, plus a medical team made up of a physician and a nurse trained in emergency care.
With this addition—joining the two advanced‑life‑support helicopters based in Tenerife and Gran Canaria and the medicalized fixed‑wing aircraft—the Health Department reaffirms its commitment to a more accessible health system and greater emergency response capacity throughout the archipelago.