Hornbill Skyways Sdn Bhd is bidding for a contract worth RM60 million from the government to provide aeromedical or flying doctor services in Sarawak, its executive chairman Aidan Wing said in Kuching today.

It is up to the government to provide the contract to the company which is most capable, and indeed Hornbill is ready to provide the service should the government give the contract to Hornbill, he said.

"I can't say Hornbill is the best, we are still in the bidding process with five other helicpoter services companies. It is up to the government to decide," he told reporters following an Aidilfitri programme at the Hornbill Skyways hangar.

Others in the run for the contract are Sabah Air Sdn Bhd, Weststar Aviation Sdn Bhd, SAR Helicopters Sdn Bhd, Systematic Aviation Services Sdn Bhd, and Layang Layang Aerospace Sdn Bhd.

Budget of RM1.3 mil a month

Recently, Health director-general Dr Mohd Ismail Merican said that the government through the ministry had allocated RM1.3 million a month to carry out the air doctor services in Sarawak.

Since February last year, 93 areas in the interiors of Sarawak have been receiving air doctor services every month.

Meanwhile, Aidan said Hornbill had recently invested RM70 million to buy five new EC135 model helicopters with twin engines including one EC135 model suited for night time flight.

Hornbill currently has two aircraft, namely Citation X and Super KingAir 8200 apart from five helicopters comprising the single engine Bell Long Ranjer and Bell Jet Ranjer models, he said.

A four-year contract was originally awarded to SAR Helicopters in 2007, but there were numerous complaints over the Peninsula-based company's ability to provide the service.

- Bernama

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