South Africa's Red Cross Air Mercy Service (AMS) has purchased two AW119 helicopters in order to modernise its fleet, courtesy of Rotortrade.

AMS, a non-profit organisation celebrating nearly 60 years of lifesaving service in the EMS sector, continues to expand and upgrade its capabilities while reinforcing its long-standing partnership with Rotortrade. These latest achievements reflect a relationship built on trust, with AMS relying on Rotortrade for fleet renewal, technical project management and remarketing support.

The two AW119 transactions, involving one AW119 Ke and one AW119 KX, highlight Rotortrade's ability to leverage its global network across Asia, Africa and Latin America to support mission-critical operators.

The first project involved the successful remarketing and placement of an AW119 Ke previously operated by AMS. The process was completed within a short timeframe thanks to seamless coordination between the AMS and Rotortrade teams.

The second project focused on sourcing and preparing an AW119 Kx tailored to AMS's operational requirements. The helicopter completed its technical works, including a hot section inspection with Pratt & Whitney, before being shipped to South Africa and is scheduled to enter EMS service in Q1 2026.

“These two AW119 transactions perfectly illustrate the strength of our partnership with AMS,” says Aurélien Blanc, Rotortrade VP and head of regional APAC and MEA. “Every aircraft we support for AMS contributes directly to saving lives. The teamwork, trust and shared mission make this collaboration especially meaningful.”

“We are proud to support AMS in its fleet modernisation as it continues its extraordinary lifesaving mission across South Africa,” adds Marcello Corrado Salati, Rotortrade deputy head of region APAC, responsible for South Africa. “We look forward to standing by AMS in the long term as its operations evolve. Our sincere thanks go to Mr. Farhaad Haffejee, CEO of AMS, for his trust and continued confidence in Rotortrade.”

“The modernisation of our fleet is not only an operational milestone, It is an investment in the safety and wellbeing of the communities we serve. Our partnership with Rotortrade demonstrates the value of working with a team that understands the urgency and complexity of emergency aeromedical services,” notes Farhaad Haffejee, CEO of AMS. “The aircraft strengthens our ability to reach patients faster, operate efficiently and deliver equitable healthcare across some of South Africa's most remote regions.”

For AMS, these projects represent significant progress in its long-term strategy to expand and modernise a fleet dedicated to EMS and outreach operations across South Africa. For Rotortrade, they mark another step in strengthening its presence in Africa. As part of its strategic roadmap, Rotortrade plans to open a representative office in Southern Africa in 2026 to further support EMS operators, commercial providers and government agencies.

These AW119 projects reaffirm Rotortrade's position as the trusted global leader in pre-owned helicopter solutions, showcasing its operational expertise, international reach and commitment to partnerships that directly enhance lifesaving aviation capabilities.