The Government of Namibia (Windhoek International) has launched state-operated air ambulance services using a Learjet 31A. The service will further include helicopter evacuations through strategic cooperation with the Namibian Police Force (NamPol) and the Namibia Defence Force (NDF).

The 1995-built aircraft, V5-NAG (msn 31A-091), was originally delivered new to the Namibian government. Under the oversight of the Ministry of Works and Transport, it was subsequently transferred to the Ministry of Health and Social Services.

Operations will be handled by Government Air Transport Services (Windhoek Eros) (GATS), which began a five-phase certification process with the Namibia Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) in February to obtain an air ambulance operator certificate (AAOC). The Learjet 31A conducted a demonstration flight on October 3, with GATS securing the AAOC in early November.

GATS manages and provides aircraft and flight operations for the Namibian government, operating a Learjet 75, a Falcon 900B, and a Falcon 7X for official government travel.

Air ambulance services

At the inauguration, health minister Esperance Luvindao said the country's first government-owned air ambulance is intended to improve access to emergency medical care in remote communities. The launch follows concerns raised in September over patients dying during transfer between healthcare facilities.

The service will include specialised emergency medical personnel and emergency coordination centres at national referral hospitals to facilitate patient handovers. A dedicated emergency call centre will act as the central point for coordination, communication, referrals, and dispatch.

“Not every single patient is qualified. We are guided by strategic policy documents that allow us to ensure we spend government resources efficiently and effectively,” Luvindao said. She added that eligible cases include patients requiring urgent intervention when ground transportation is clinically inappropriate or would expose them to additional risks.

Vice-president Lucia Witbooi cautioned that the initiative's long-term success will depend on sustained funding, aircraft maintenance, specialised medical equipment, personnel training, and operational readiness.