UK aviation minister attends handover of Airbus Helicopters H145 to Yorkshire Air Ambulance

In the presence of Transport Minister, Robert Goodwill MP, Airbus Helicopters formally handed over the second and final H145 to Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) at the Farnborough Air Show 2016. The aircraft, which will go through a completion process at Airbus Helicopters’ Civil Helicopter Hub at Oxford Airport, will be fitted with a state of the art Bucher medical interior specifically tailored to YAA’s requirements.

The hoist-equipped aircraft, part-funded by the £1m Treasury donation from the Libor Fine Funds, will allow the charity to reach patients in remote or inaccessible places, while the increased range, payload and cabin space will enable YAA to provide critical care and transport across Yorkshire’s 5 million acres of territory. The 4-axis autopilot, full night flying capabilities and availability rates of roughly 95% will help YAA increase life-saving missions by 30% and make the H145 an iconic sight over the skies of Yorkshire.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance will also benefit from a unique long-term, comprehensive support arrangement, specifically tailored to the projected 800+ flying hours per year the charity plans to fly. The agreement, which covers material management and 24/7 Airbus Helicopters support across the UK, will provide value for money over the duration of the contract and help optimise the aircraft’s availability.

Transport Minister Robert Goodwill MP said, “Air ambulances play a vital role in saving lives. As a Transport Minister and a Yorkshire MP I am delighted to be here today to see Yorkshire Air Ambulance receiving their new state of the art helicopter. The money for this helicopter comes in part from fines levied on banks. It’s only right that funds from those who have demonstrated the worst values should go to those, like the brave air ambulance crews, that show the best on a daily basis. This brings the total fund given to air ambulances across the country to over £10 million.”

Peter Sunderland, Chairman of YAA, said, “We are extremely excited to be formally accepting our second H145 from Airbus, and Farnborough Airshow is an absolutely fitting surrounding to do so. Our new H145’s will provide the people of Yorkshire and its visitors with a much enhanced, state-of-the-art medical service, befitting of the support they show towards us. Airbus Helicopters has been a pleasure to deal with during the purchasing process and we are now looking forward to the H145’s taking to the skies of Yorkshire and helping us to continue to save more lives.”

Colin James, Managing Director of Airbus Helicopters in the UK said, Yorkshire Air Ambulance will benefit from the enhanced capability this innovative and fully supported H145 solution provides. We are proud to be associated with the delivery of such an important mission which touches the lives of people across Yorkshire on a daily basis”.