The Midlands Air Ambulance Charity has purchased an H145 helicopter from Airbus Helicopters. The new air ambulance, which will replace the UK aeromedical charity's leased EC135 helicopter, will become operational in early 2025 from the charity's Tatenhill airbase in Staffordshire, UK.

To date, Midlands Air Ambulance Charity has owned two of the three helicopters in its fleet, while the third EC135 aircraft, which has been in service for more than 18 years, is leased from Babcock Mission Critical Services Onshore. The new purchase means Midlands Air Ambulance Charity will own all three operational helicopters that cover advanced patient care across Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, the West Midlands and Worcestershire.

Hanna Sebright, chief executive for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, explains why the lifesaving service has invested in the new helicopter. She says: “As a charity that relies entirely on donations to fund our daily missions, the purchase of our third wholly-owned aircraft is a significant milestone in our 33-year history. Our mission is to provide the very best advanced pre-hospital emergency care to patients across the six counties we serve. As part of this commitment, we have invested in a brand new H145 helicopter, which will further support our ability to rapidly reach patients in critical need of our help well into the future.”

The new H145, which is registered G-HMAA, will be flying out of the charity's Tatenhill airbase near Burton-on-Trent, supporting patient care across Staffordshire, Stoke on Trent and the surrounding areas. As a next generation aircraft, it comes with additional capabilities to assist the delivery of enhanced patient care, including a fifth rotor blade, which will ensure an even smoother flight, making it more comfortable for patients in transit to hospital. This also reduces fuel consumption, ensuring the new helicopter will be more economical to operate in the long term.

Advanced technology on board, including external cameras, will aid the pilot when landing in complicated surroundings near the scene of an incident. Plus, the increased internal capacity means additional lifesaving hospital-level equipment can be carried. This will enable the clinicians to provide additional treatments to help those in critical need, giving them the greatest chance of survival and a good recovery.

Lenny Brown MBE, managing director for Airbus Helicopters in the UK, comments: “We greatly appreciate the loyalty of our long-standing customer Midlands Air Ambulance Charity. The H145 has established itself as the clear helicopter of choice for air ambulance operators outside London. Its superior performance, optimal size and exceptional reliability will provide outstanding value for money to the charity's donors and all the people that it serves.”

The new H145 has been funded through careful financial planning, support from the communities and local businesses within the region and two generous grant giving organisations, Denise Coates Foundation and The Kildare Trust.

Sebright concludes: “We place advanced patient care at the heart of everything we do, which is we why made the strategic decision to purchase a new H145 airframe. But this is only thanks to the support and generosity of Denise Coates Foundation, The Kildare Trust, the public and local businesses, which we are exceptionally grateful for.

“Our new helicopter will enhance operations and strengthen our charity's existing lifesaving network, providing substantial public benefit across the whole of the region, and we look forward to welcoming it into service in 2025.”

Initially built at Airbus in Donauwörth in Germany, the helicopter undertook test flights in July before being transported to Airbus' new facility in Oxford where it received a medical fit out. The aircraft will be transferred to Midlands Air Ambulance Charity's aviation partner, Babcock Mission Critical Onshore Services, early December where the pilots will receive further flight training on the new airframe.