UK HEMS provider Devon Air Ambulance (DAA) has resumed air operations, after grounding its fleet at the end of March, following the successful introduction of several innovative solutions that provide greater protection for its patients and crew against coronavirus.

A new separation screen has been installed between the front and rear sections of its two EC135 aircraft, which partitions off the pilot cockpit from the patient treatment/paramedic area. DAA's aircrew will also now be able to use newly designed throat microphones when they need to wear level 3 PPE respirator masks inflight, which will improve internal and external communication. Lastly, a new bracket has been designed that will enable a full-face visor to be worn on aviation safety helmets. This will provide the ability for its clinicians to wear the required level 3 PPE when carrying out medical procedures that carry a greater risk of transmitting coronavirus.

“This marks the culmination of lots of hard work by our teams to address the challenges that led us to ground the aircraft at the end of March," says Ian Payne, flight operations director. "These modifications have been rapidly developed in collaboration with industry partners and approved for use by EU and UK aviation authorities, which demonstrates how we are all working together to collaborate and innovate during these difficult times.

“We would like to extend our thanks to Babcock Marine at Devonport Dockyard, Babcock Mission Critical Services Onshore in Gloucester and Headset Services Limited for all their support in getting these modifications in place in our EC135 helicopters.”

From 6 May, the Exeter-based aircraft once again took to the skies over Devon responding to patients from 07:00 am to dusk every day. As a first step, DAA will be deploying to patients by air, treating them on scene and then assisting local crews to convey patients to hospital by land ambulance.

Nigel Hare, operations director explains: “Even as we start to resume air operations, our paramedics will still be responding to patients by critical care car, with at least one car operational throughout the day in addition to the aircraft. As the Exeter-based aircraft goes offline at dusk, that crew will move into a critical care car, ensuring we can still deliver our full critical care capabilities until 2.00am every day.

“You may also see our Eaglescott aircraft flying as we use this time to carry out more training and simulation so that all our teams are well-prepared to continue moving forward to meet the challenges of operating at this time.”