Stunning new state-of-the-art Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance now in use

 

The state-of- the-art AgustaWestland 169 (AW169), based at RAF Waddington, will undertake an average of three life-saving missions every day.

The aircraft has significant benefits and will enhance patient care. It is bigger, giving paramedics and doctors 360-degree access to patients in flight; it is faster meaning it can get to patients quicker; and it has better endurance meaning it can fly further without the need to refuel.

CEO Karen Jobling said: “Excellent patient care is at the heart of everything we do. The combination of speed, endurance, and technology of the AW169 will be of huge benefit to our patients, giving them the very best chances of survival possible in their greatest hour of need. The aircraft also has the most advanced navigation capabilities on offer in the industry and is extremely future-proof.

 

“We are proud to say that our charity saves lives every day, and with this new aircraft we can continue doing so for many years to come. This is only possible thanks to the generous support from the people, organisations and businesses in the communities within which we serve.

 

“A heartfelt thank you goes out to each and every one of them. I’m sure our supporters will be pleased to see that the new ambucopter is the same yellow colour that we have all grown so fond of and that it will be spotted very soon flying through our skies, en route to another life-saving mission.”

With no external funding, the charity relies sole on donations from local people to continue saving lives every day of the year. Each life-saving mission undertaken with the new aircraft will cost an average of £2,500. With around 1,000 of these missions undertaken every year, the charity needs to raise £2.5million over the next year.

The Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance has been operational for over 23 years and in that time crews have responded to over 18,200 of the most serious and time critical 999 calls including road traffic collisions, cardiac arrests, sporting accidents, farming incidents, falls, and many more involving both adults and children.

Since 1994 there have been four helicopters, each one has offered an upgraded service and greater benefits to patients.

The cost of the charity’s final week of flying the outgoing MD902 helicopter, which has served the charity well for the past seven years, was paid for by the Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance Countryside Appeal – a total donation of £44,100.