London’s Air Ambulance Charity (LAAC) – the helicopter emergency medical service (HEMS) for the UK’s capital – has ordered two Airbus H135 helicopters for the renewal of its fleet under a contract deal at the Farnborough International Airshow.
London Air Ambulance Charity
“We are extremely honored to have accepted this order from one of the world’s most prestigious aeromedical operators,” stated Airbus Helicopters UK Head of Civil Business Gary Clark. “It’s almost 35 years since we supplied LAAC’s first ever helicopter – a Dauphin – and it will be very satisfying to once also see them flying our helicopters.”
The two aircraft will be delivered in 2024 and will work primarily from LAAC’s helipad base at the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel which is one of the highest in Europe. LAAC’s advanced trauma team treated 1,713 patients in 2021.
Charles Newitt, LAAC Deputy CEO, told: “We are very impressed with the medical capability that we can pack into the H135. The problem of ground safety is very important to us as we frequently have to work in physically constrained emergency locations with a constant risk of the public being present. The packed size of the H135 plus its Fenestron tail rotor and high ground clearance are attractive features for us.”
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Jonathan Jenkins, the LAAC CEO, said: “The buy of the two new helicopters is an exciting step forward for London’s Air Ambulance Charity and the service we give to London. It is also a remarkable fundraising challenge for the Charity.“The working environment in London is complex and we have chosen the Airbus H135 helicopter as our preferred option to maintain and develop our service over the coming years, enabling our pilots, paramedics, and doctors to continue to innovate in the field of pre-hospital care in one of the world’s most congested cities.
At the core of everything we do is the patients and communities we serve and I’m sure that today’s announcement will help save lives across London for many years to arrive.”
The H135 is the market leader in emergency medical services (EMS) worldwide and can be fitted with a wide scope of EMS configurations, supplying direct access and ample room for patient care. With the lowest handling and maintenance prices in its class, the established H135 family of aircraft incorporates Airbus’ Helionix avionics suite and has recently received an alternate gross weight increase for an additional 265lbs (120kg) of useful load.
Airbus Helicopters is the leading provider of helicopters to the air medical transport industry, giving some 55% of the 2,600 EMS helicopters flying in the world today and two-thirds of the air ambulance fleet in the UK.
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