Lift Off For New Air Ambulances Serving Hfm Region

Two new state-of-the-art Air Ambulances have taken to the skies of the Hfm Region today.

The launch represents an investment of more than £30m over the next seven years by the Air Ambulance Service, the charity which operates life-saving helicopters across Leicestershire and Northamptonshire.

The new models are faster than their predecessors and offer many improvements, including improved clinical areas for crews to work while caring for patients.

Critical Care Paramedic Janet Holmes is one of those who will be travelling to the scenes of emergencies in the helicopters. and spoke to Hfm:

One of the new helicopters with the Air Ambulance crew

The new fleet is the culmination of an 18-month project to modernise and replace the Derbyshire, Leicestershire & Rutland Air Ambulance (DLRAA), and Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance (WNAA).

The new aircraft were launched from Sywell Aerodrome in Northamptonshire, home of aircraft provider and project partner Sloane Helicopters Limited, before flying to their respective homes at East Midlands Airport  and Coventry Airport.

The Air Ambulance Service is calling on the communities the aircrafts serve to show their support as the charity builds on the 42,000 plus missions it has attended since its launch in 2003.

To find out more about the lifesaving work of the charity can call 0300 3045 999 or visit www.theairambulanceservice.org.uk

The cockpit of the new helicopter

The interior of the new helicopter

One of the new helicopters