Press Release

Issued by Babcock MCS Onshore.

October 21, 2014

After a big fundraising campaign and support from members of the public, Great Western Air Ambulance Charity has received its new helicopter, operated by Bond Air Services. The Eurocopter 135 will replace the current helicopter, an aging Bolkow, enabling the charity to transform the care it is able to offer to patients.

The Movin' On Up campaign was launched to raise the £250,000 needed to secure the additional lease for six months. Thanks to the generosity of the public the target was met, and the new helicopter has arrived at the base in Filton.

Upgrading to the EC 135 will mean that the advanced critical care service that operates in the region will be carried out in a helicopter that is compatible with the high standard of medical care and interventions that the team provide.

The EC 135 will include an extra seat, meaning that if a child is airlifted a parent can accompany them. This extra seat will also allow the charity to train new paramedics and doctors.

The new helicopter can also land on the BRI or the Gloucester Royal helipads, giving greater hospital access across the region. The EC 135 is also side loading, which will reduce the amount of time it takes to load patients.

Critical care paramedic John W, the clinical lead for the team, said: “The new helicopter will mean a great deal to the people in the region we cover.

“One of the major advantages is that we will now be able to land on the BRI helipad, without having to land on the Downs and make the transfer in by land ambulance. This will make a big time saving.”

GWAAC chief executive John Christensen said: “The arrival of our new helicopter is the culmination of a lot of hard work by a lot of people.
“It is a fantastic gain for the people in the region, who paid for it with their charitable donations. The challenge now comes to keep it going, we need support to keep it in the air. It is a great cause because we really do save lives.
“Without the support of the public there would be no air ambulance, so we really appreciate everyone who has donated and made our dream into a reality."

GWAAC, formed in 2008, provides an air ambulance service for the counties of Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Gloucestershire, North Somerset and parts of Wiltshire.