Latest news with #Heli2Appeal
BBC News
08-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Second helicopter arrives at Cornwall Air Ambulance base
Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust's second helicopter has arrived at its Newquay base. The charity said the arrival of the helicopter was thanks to the generosity of the public during the Heli2 Appeal, which launched in raised £2.85m towards the aircraft which was brought over from Italy in February and underwent a medical fit out in Gloucester. Before going into operation, the new aircraft would undergo a "shakedown" period, where the pilots would carry out approximately 20 flying hours of final tests, the charity said. Tim Bunting, chief executive of the Cornwall Air Ambulance, said it was a "momentous day".He said: "We were the very first UK air ambulance service – and our latest arrival today will help us continue to save many more lives and provide the best possible service." The charity said owning a second helicopter would enable crews to attend more missions across their 365-days-a-year service. Adam Smith, unit chief pilot, said: "Robust checks and inspections have already been carried out, and the team now looks forward to carrying out the final test flights over the next few weeks."The charity added the public would get the opportunity to see the second helicopter up close at the charity's blue lights festival, Helifest, taking place on 19 July at Scorrier House near Redruth.
BBC News
25-02-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Cornwall Air Ambulance gets second life-saving helicopter
Cornwall Air Ambulance pilots have collected a helicopter from a production line in Italy – making it the first time the charity has two helicopters to provide critical care to people in Cornwall and the Isles of move comes as the charity passed the £2m milestone of its £2.85m Heli2 Appeal target it launched in 2023, and has about £197,000 left to aircraft has now arrived in Gloucestershire from Milan, where teams of specialists are to give it a medical fit out, transforming it into a fully-functioning critical care work would take several months to complete and the helicopter was expected to be fully operational by the summer, bosses said. 'Vast range of equipment' The charity attended 1,064 missions in 2024, including 327 medical new helicopter was to carry a lift raft system and flotation devices "maximising safety" when flying over water, unit chief pilot Adam Smith had high weight limits, meaning it could carry more fuel, so the crew could go on back-to-back missions and carry "a vast range" of equipment, drugs and lifesaving tools, he would also have the space and weight capacity to transport a parent as well if a child needed urgent medical care, and would fly at about 135 knots (155mph), Mr Smith a second aircraft equipped with a vision system, powerful searchlights and advanced mapping systems would also mean the service could fly at night when its other helicopter was being maintained, he said. Air ambulance's chief executive Tim Bunting said the arrival of the second aircraft was a "landmark moment" which would "boost the resilience and capability of our service". "Ultimately, this will mean we'll be able to save even more lives for many years to come," he charity is appealing for people to help it reach the rest of its fundraising target to help the aircraft take to the skies.
