WILTSHIRE Air Ambulance (WAA) has announced that its new helicopter will begin operating from tomorrow.
The charity was given the go-ahead for its new Bell 429, to undertake Helicopter Emergency Medical Service missions following a visit by the Civil Aviation Authority today.
Kevin Reed, head of operations at WAA, said: “We are delighted that we have received clearance from the Civil Aviation Authority and our state of the art helicopter can begin operating as an air ambulance tomorrow.
“This is a new and exciting era for the charity to operate a dedicated air ambulance with two Critical Care paramedics onboard. Our paramedics deliver gold standard patient care and the helicopter can reach anywhere in Wiltshire within 11 minutes. All the crew and charity staff are proud to serve the public.”
Chairman and chief executive Heli Charter, the company which is leasing the new helicopter, Ken Wills said: “This is a historic day for Wiltshire Air Ambulance and Heli Charter to begin operating the first Bell 429 as an air ambulance in the UK.
“We are privileged to be in a long term partnership with Wiltshire Air Ambulance Charitable Trust and excited about the commencement of the service.”
The air ambulance will operate during daytime hours initially with night flying due to commence in late spring 2015.
The charity has signed a 3 year lease with Wiltshire Police for its helicopter to be based at a hangar at Wiltshire Police Headquarters, Devizes, until it has found a suitable site to build a permanent home and visitor centre.
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