The Press And Journal has been given an exclusive look at work to prepare a charity-funded air ambulance which will soon carry paramedics to carry out life-saving work in the north and north-east.
A year after successfully campaigning for Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA) to base its second helicopter in The Granite City, The Press and Journal is backing the charity’s fundraising campaign to get it off the ground.
SCAA hopes to raise £6 million pounds to fund operations out of Aberdeen airport, expected to begin in March.
So far, the charity has raised around half of its target.
Today we are announcing We’re Backing Helimed 79 to encourage readers to give what they can towards the fundraising efforts.
The aircraft will help to widen the reach of the major trauma centre (MTC) based at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital and will answer calls in hard-to-reach rural areas all over Scotland, depending on demand.
SCAA has already signed an agreement with Babcock to operate and maintain the Aberdeen-based aircraft.
The firm has been responsible for the running and upkeep of SCAA’s first aircraft, which flies out of Perth airport, since its launch in 2013.
SCAA’s EC 135 T2 is currently undergoing a major refurbishment to become an EC135 T2E, meaning it can carry more weight, before its launch next year.
The Babcock Onshore team is currently carrying out work to transform the aircraft, having stripped it back to bare metal.
Steve Hughes, who is managing the project for the company, said: “This is rewarding work and you take extra pride when these aircraft leave the complex to start their service.
“This is the bread and butter of what we do. We provide life-saving machines.”
The aircraft is now being repainted for its new role having already had any minor repair work required.
Following that, engineers will upgrade the helicopter to take more weight by upgrading its rotor, airframe and electrics.
Last year, the charity’s highly-trained medical team flew out to 270 emergencies and raced to nearly 60 others in the area surrounding the airstrip in Scone by road by car.
Nearly two thirds of all the patients the helicopter crew tended needed to be airlifted to hospital.
The EC 135 T2 was previously used by East Midlands Air Ambulance but has clocked up only 4,000 flight hours in its 13-year service.
Babcock plans to equip it with the very latest medical and navigation kit.
This cutting-edge technology will be installed alongside new safety equipment, emergency flotations and life raft, an emergency services radio and helicopter terrain awareness system.
The latter is a database of hazards like cranes, telegraph poles and high load wires which will assist pilots in finding a safe route to their often un-surveyed landing sites.
Finally, the machine will be rigorously tested and certified by aviation authorities, before taking to the skies for staff training ahead of operations beginning in March.
Overall the refit will take more than 500 man-hours, Mr Hughes said.
He added: “It’s always interesting when you are able to play your part in helping the charity break new ground in terms of capability and operational service.
“The team are aware when they are working on the aircraft and trying to make deadlines that the sooner it goes into service, the sooner it will be able to fulfil its role and help save lives.
“This is going to be a welcomed aircraft and the charity being able to offer this service all over Scotland is a great thing.”
Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance has made a huge impact since 2013, saving lives and preventing suffering.
That is why the P&J campaigned successfully for SCAA’s second helicopter to be based in our region.
The countdown is now on for the aircraft – call sign Helimed 79 – to start flying missions from Aberdeen Airport.
But this is an emergency service that relies entirely on donations.
Each call-out costs about £2,500 and SCAA needs P&J readers to help hit its £6million target and get things off to a successful start.
So please do anything you can to raise those funds and show that We’re Backing Helimed 79.
Ways to donate to SCAA
- Website: www.scaa.org.uk/donate
- Text: Text ‘SCAA’ and the amount to 70085
- Phone: 03001231111
- Cheques: Made payable to ‘SCAA’ or ‘Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance’ and sent to: Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA), The Control Tower, Perth Airport, Scone, PH2 6PL
