Press Release

Issued by NAC National Airways Corporation.

April 10, 2018

National Airways Corporation (NAC), which provides helicopter-based emergency medical support services to the Eastern Cape Department of Health, recently assisted in airlifting scores of accident victims safely to hospital after a horrific bus accident that claimed 13 lives near Ngcobo, in the Eastern Cape.

On Wednesday, 28 March, NAC's ZS-RJR air rescue helicopter had just returned to base after the completion of a multi-million rand Spectrum medical kit installation when its pilots were placed on call. The team was dispatched to Satansnek, where a bus carrying 60 passengers had overturned at a bridge situated on the mountain pass between Ngcobo and Elliot. The NAC air rescue unit was one of three helicopters ferrying survivors to a nearby local hospital and is credited for the survival of several critically injured persons.

With the ZS-RJR's custom upgrade, which was specially imported from the USA, it now boasts the most modernised medical kit to be fitted in a Bell 407 in South Africa. This latest improvement to NAC's already impressive fleet of helicopters guarantees that NAC will be able to provide fast, efficient and effective emergency medical services to the Eastern Cape. And, with the addition of a winch, the 407 is one of very few helicopters in South Africa with 'coast guard' capabilities, allowing it to hoist people from the sea.

Commenting on the kit upgrade, Alister Brown, division head of NAC Helicopters, explained, “By combining the 407's speed and versatility with the new Spectrum medical kit we will continue to offer the people of the Eastern Cape the highest levels of care when they need it most. At NAC we're passionate about providing world-class service, which is why we're committed to investing in world-class equipment.”