Midlands Air Ambulance strengthens fleet with new helicopter

Keith Marriott (MAAC Chairman), Lenny Brown (Airbus), Hanna Sebright (MAAC CEO)

Midlands Air Ambulance Charity has purchased a new H145 helicopter from Airbus to replace a leased EC135 helicopter.

The new helicopter will become operational in early 2025 from the charity’s Tatenhill airbase in Staffordshire. It’s been funded through careful financial planning, support from the communities and local businesses within the region and two grant-giving organisations, the Denise Coates Foundation and The Kildare Trust.

All three operational helicopters that cover advanced patient care across Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, the West Midlands and Worcestershire are now owned by the charity.

Previously, the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity has owned two of the three helicopters in its fleet, while the third EC135 aircraft, which has been in service for more than 18 years, is leased from Babcock Mission Critical Services Onshore.

Hanna Sebright, chief executive for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity said: “As a charity which relies entirely on donations to fund our daily missions, the purchase of our third wholly-owned aircraft is a significant milestone in our 33-year history.

“Our mission is to provide the very best advanced pre-hospital emergency care to patients across the six counties we serve. As part of this commitment, we have invested in a brand new H145 helicopter, which will further support our ability to rapidly reach patients in critical need of our help well into the future.”

As a next-generation aircraft, the H145 comes with additional capabilities to assist the delivery of enhanced patient care including a fifth rotor blade to ensure an even smoother flight. This also reduces fuel consumption, ensuring the new helicopter will be more economical to operate in the long term.

Advanced technology on board, including external cameras, will aid the pilot when landing in complicated surroundings near the scene of an incident. The increased internal capacity means additional lifesaving hospital-level equipment can be carried.

Built at Airbus in Donauwörth, Germany, the helicopter undertook test flights in July before being transported to Airbus’ new facility in Oxford where it received a medical fit-out. The aircraft will be transferred to Midlands Air Ambulance Charity’s aviation partner, Babcock Mission Critical Onshore Services in early December where the pilots will receive further flight training on the new airframe.

Lenny Brown MBE, managing director for Airbus Helicopters in the UK added: “We greatly appreciate the loyalty of our long-standing customer Midlands Air Ambulance Charity. The H145 has established itself as the clear helicopter of choice for air ambulance operators outside London. Its superior performance, optimal size and exceptional reliability will provide outstanding value for money to the charity’s donors and all the people that it serves.”