Fuerteventura’s Medical Helicopter Now a Reality

The Canary Islands Emergency Service (SUC) will operate a medicalized helicopter based in Fuerteventura as part of the new fleet of advanced‑life‑support aircraft commissioned by the Canary Islands Health Department.

The contract fulfills a long‑standing demand from the island to have an operational centre at the Insular Hospital, equipped with a helipad and strategically positioned to serve both Fuerteventura and Lanzarote.

The award, worth €39 million over four years, went to the temporary consortium of Avincis Aviation Iberia, Avincis Aviation Technics and Avincis Aviation Spain. The service must commence by the deadline stipulated in the agreement.

The Third Advanced‑Life‑Support Helicopter, Based in Fuerteventura

• With this addition, the archipelago will have three advanced‑life‑support helicopters (Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria and Tenerife) plus the existing medicalized fixed‑wing aircraft.
• Each aircraft will be crewed by a commander, a pilot, and a HEMS medical team consisting of a doctor and a nurse.
• The goal is to cut response times for inter‑hospital transfers and severe emergencies in hard‑to‑reach locations.
• In the previous year, the two operational helicopters were dispatched 1,065 times, underscoring the need for this capability across the fragmented islands.
• The new contract guarantees 24‑hour, year‑round availability and includes the option for a one‑year extension.

In‑Flight Medical Enhancements

• The tender specifications introduce several critical care upgrades:
  • High‑flow pediatric and neonatal oxygen therapy.
  • Onboard blood transport with portable analysis equipment.
  • Advanced fire‑suppression systems.
  • Universal‑syringe infusion pumps.
  • Provision for an ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) unit for patients with severe respiratory or cardiac failure.
• Digital integration of electromedicine will enable real‑time transmission of patient data from the aircraft to the SUC coordination centre and the receiving hospital, facilitating immediate clinical assessment and improving therapeutic response.

The project is co‑financed by the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER) and may receive additional funding in the current operational programming period.