London’s Air Ambulance is hoping to raise £4.4 million, of which £2.3 million is still needed, to acquire and sustain a second helicopter and extend its daylight flying hours for five years. Dr. Mark Salmon/London’s Air Ambulance Photo
London’s Air Ambulance will, for the first time in its history, fly longer hours during the summer months. From March 29, 2015, the start of BST, until Sept. 2, the charity is now able to deliver its advanced trauma team to critically injured people in London via helicopter every day until sunset. At its peak the helicopter can be used until 21.21 whereas previously, due to aviation resources, the service had to stop flying at 18.45 each day. This development is part of the charity’s strategy to extend its helicopter emergency medical service. Further to this, it is hoping to acquire a second helicopter to provide cover when the current aircraft is offline for maintenance. Together these will allow the charity to reach up an estimated 400 patients per year by air.
Graham Hodgkin, chief executive officer, London’s Air Ambulance, said: “If someone has fallen from height or under a train getting our advanced trauma team to their side as quickly as possible can be the difference between life and death. When we can fly, we can get to them up to eight times faster than in a rapid response car.
“When daylight hours are longer people are out and about more – kids playing, after work drinks, BBQs, festivals – London is full of things to do. Previously, due to affordability, we couldn’t contract the additional pilots and fire crew needed to cover the summer months but thanks to those who have donated to the Your London, Your Helicopter campaign so far, we have now been able to do that. That said, our biggest stumbling block is having access to a second helicopter if the current one is offline for maintenance. I urge the people and businesses in London to keep donating at yourhelicopter.london to help us get a second helicopter for London airborne later this year.”
London’s Air Ambulance has contracted three additional pilots and further fire crew support to cover its extended daylight flying hours. The new pilots include:
Rob Pennell – Rob joined London’s Air Ambulance in 1999 and was the chief pilot 2006-2013. He left to join Bell Helicopter as Bell’s regional manager for the U.K. and Northern Europe and during his spare time continued to fly as a freelance pilot for other U.K. Air Ambulance organizations as well as London’s Air Ambulance. After two years with Bell, Rob is now an independent consultant with over twenty years of experience in the aviation industry, including flying as a corporate/VIP charter pilot and in support of the North Sea offshore oil and gas industry.
George Phillips – previously the chief pilot at Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance for 11 years where he flew over 6,000 missions. He has over 35 years’ experience flying helicopters for organizations including the Police Service and RAF Search & Rescue.
Sam Thompson – previously a pilot with the Royal Air Force with whom he served for 11 years operating all over the world including Europe, USA, North Africa, the Middle East and Afghanistan.
London’s Air Ambulance is calling on the people and organizations of London to join together in owning the solution to London’s vital need for a second emergency medical helicopter. In its largest ever fundraising drive, the ‘Your London, Your Helicopter’ campaign is hoping to raise £4.4 million, of which £2.3 million is still needed, to acquire and sustain a second helicopter and extend its daylight flying hours for five years. The charity is urging the 10 million people who live, work and holiday in the capital to donate at yourhelicopter.london
