The air mercy service ofthe South African Red Cross the flying doctors and nurses of Southern Africa

Starting with a single flight from Oudtshoorn to Cape Town in 1966, the South African Air Mercy Service (AMS) evolved into a comprehensive aeromedical organisation serving South Africa. Today AMS has a fleet of fixed-wing and rotor-wing (helicopter) aircrafts with several bases around the country covering over 300,000 km2 of land area. AMS has emerged as a vital response to provide essential medical care in remote and underserved areas of South Africa and to enable swift assistance to emergency rescue missions on both land and sea. This article outlines the main features of the AMS’ history, operations, and highlights how it helps address the country’s healthcare challenges afflicted with limited access to medical facilities, socioeconomic disparities, and a high burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases.