£4.5m air ambulance hailed by staff
Air ambulance staff today hailed the purchase of a new £4.5 million helicopter to carry out night-time operations as a "fantastic development" which will help save more lives.
The Midlands Air Ambulance is replacing one of its three aircraft and kitting it out with new equipment.
It will cost £1.6m extra a year, in addition to the charity's current £6m running costs but bosses say lives will be saved round the clock using the new technology.
The helicopter will be used from next September. The charity, which is based in Brierley Hill and is celebrating its 21st anniversary, currently only carries out operations in daylight. The new aircraft is likely to be based at RAF Cosford, near Wolverhampton, where many of the fleet's doctors are based.
The charity will need to pay a deposit of about £1m on the new helicopter and then pay off the rest in installments over a number of years. The fleet will continue to be operated by Bond Air Services, said bosses.
Steve Wheaton, assistant chief officer for West Midlands Ambulance Service said: "The announcement that the charity has not only re-appointed Bond as its operator but has also taken the decision to purchase an aircraft with night flying capability is fantastic news for all concerned.
"Operationally we demand only the very best in care for our patients across the West Midlands and both Bond and the charity continue to ensure on a daily basis that those demands are met.
"The potential to extend the service operating hours into the night is a fantastic development which we will pursue together."
Chris Greenhill, from Bond Air Services, said "We are delighted with this significant contract award which underpins the longstanding relationship that we have enjoyed with both the charity and ambulance service since operations began in 1991.
"We look forward to working with the Midlands Air Ambulance to fully develop the potential for night operations in the region."
Head of fundraising Jason Levy said the charity was already making plans to increase its activities to generate more cash to help meet the higher running costs.
He added: "We are in the fortunate position that we already have the money available to put down a deposit and the rest can be paid over a period of years."
