Turkey's Medline Emergency Medical Service will expand its air ambulance capacity in 2007 with the addition of a fixed wing aircraft, probably a Super King Air B200.

The private company launched its air ambulance arm in the spring of 2006 with the acquisition of two Agusta helicopters, an A119 and an A109E.

Air ambulance director Dr Atakan Colak says the acquisitions make Medline an all-round ground and air ambulance service. Launched 15 years ago with three ground ambulances, Medline now has 40.

With permanent bases in Istanbul, Izmir, Ankara, Bursa, Sakarya, Kocaeli and a six month presence in Konya and Antalya, Medline provides ambulance services throughout Turkey.

"We acquired the second helicopter, the A119, because we had to be able to meet demand when the A109E was in the air," says Dr Colak.

"We expect our air ambulance division to be very busy in 2007. We will be adding a fixed wing to give us greater range capacity. The Super King Air has the space, range and room that we need"

Medline also provides medical flight escorts for patients being transported on board private jet or turboprop aircraft and commercial airliners.

Helicopter medical crew training was provided by the U.K.-based CCAT Aeromedical Training.