Air Mercy Service celebrates 60 years of life-saving aero-medical services in South Africa
Aurelian Blanc of Rotortrade and AMS Board of Trustees.
Image: Supplied.
The Air Mercy Service (AMS) celebrated its six-decade legacy of innovation, compassion, and life-saving impact in delivering critical aero-medical and rescue services across South Africa.
Since its establishment in 1966, AMS has evolved into a highly specialised healthcare support service, providing emergency transport, rescue operations, and a Flying Doctor outreach programme to remote and underserved communities.
The 60th anniversary celebration, held at AMS’s base in the General Aviation Area of Cape Town International Airport on March 26, brought together government leaders, international partners, donors, and stakeholders from the aviation and healthcare sectors to reflect on its history and chart a strategic path forward.
Delivering the chairperson’s address, Gideon Sam emphasised that the milestone was a defining moment for the organisation's future. “This is not merely a commemoration. It is a moment of strategic intent,” he stated. Sam highlighted AMS’s role as a critical extension of South Africa’s healthcare system. "From the outset, our work was never designed to stand alone; it was built to be embedded within the broader national health agenda - extending specialist care into the most underserved communities and acting as a force multiplier for a public health sector stretched to its limits.”
Platinum Sponsor Aurelian Blanc of Rotortrade and AMC CEO Farhaad Haffejee.
Image: Supplied.
He outlined three strategic priorities: removing distance as a barrier to care, deepening integration with the health system, and driving innovation and sustainability, concluding that “The next chapter of the Air Mercy Service will be defined by deeper, more intentional partnerships - because none of this will be achieved alone.”
AMS CEO Farhaad Haffejee reinforced the operational strength behind AMS's work, stating: “Excellence is not a skill. It is an attitude - and that attitude has defined the Air Mercy Service for six decades.” Haffejee noted that the true measure of AMS lies in its daily impact. “Every flight we undertake represents a critical moment - a patient in need, a community in distress, a healthcare system under pressure. Our role is to respond efficiently, safely, and with clinical excellence.” He further described AMS's integrated model within the healthcare system: “We are not a standalone service. We are embedded within the system - supporting provincial departments, extending hospital capacity, and enabling access to care where it would otherwise not exist.”
Celebrating 60 years of the Air Mercy Services.
Image: Supplied.
Looking ahead, Haffejee outlined a focus on operational excellence, sustainable growth, and collaborative impact. The evening's programme, facilitated by Mr. Africa Melane, featured contributions from key partners. These included a Platinum Sponsor address by Aurelian Blanc of Rotortrade and a keynote address by Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, who spoke on advancing equitable healthcare.
Jodi Scholtz (NLC Commissioner) offered a sector-wide perspective, stressing the importance of collaboration between government, civil society, and the private sector. Over the past six decades, the AMS legacy includes conducting thousands of life-saving patient transfers, delivering critical care to remote areas, supporting disaster response efforts, and strengthening the public health system through outreach and training. As AMS looks to the future, the organisation remains focused on expanding its reach and strengthening partnerships to ensure equitable access to healthcare for all South Africans.
“Access to quality healthcare should not be determined by geography,” Haffejee said. “The impact we celebrate today is a collective achievement - and the future will be built together.” The event also served as a crucial platform to raise awareness and funding to sustain and grow AMS’s life-saving services.