A new life-saving air ambulance based in Aberdeen has taken to the skies for the first time.
The copter, operated by Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA), entered service yesterday after years of campaigning and fundraising.
Helimed 79 can be called upon by the Scottish Ambulance Service at any time to help with emergencies anywhere in the country, but it is expected to make its most significant impact in the north-east.
The EC135 T2E and her crew operates from a base in Dyce, and is extending the reach of the city’s major trauma centre at Foresterhill.
Yesterday members of its team carried out a “familiarisation run” with a circuit in the skies above the city, briefly landing at the city’s flagship Royal Infirmary.
It is one of two aircraft operated by SCAA. The other, Helimed 76, is based at Perth Airport and has attended more than 2,500 emergencies since launching in 2013.
John Bullough, SCAA’s founding chairman, said: “There’s never been a more crucial time for additional emergency pre-hospital care resources in Scotland and SCAA is proud to be able to strengthen the country’s air ambulance fleet.
“Within seven years, this relatively young charity has been able to sustain one helicopter and then fund a second which is a remarkable achievement for everyone involved – not least the public, whose generous support funds our entire life-saving service.
“During these difficult times, the demands on frontline emergency services has never been greater and we hope the public will continue to support us – ensuring that, with the launch of Helimed 79, we can fly more care, more quickly, to more people wherever the need arises in Scotland.”
SCAA CEO David Craig pays tribute to those who made the launch of Helimed 79 possible – the people of Scotland. Without your support, we wouldn't have been able to launch Helimed 79 today. #ThankYou pic.twitter.com/nRrZs3Jyhw
— SCAA (@ScotAirAmb) April 3, 2020
Tom Steele, chairman of the Scottish Ambulance Service, said: “Working very closely with the Scottish Ambulance Service, SCAA has saved many lives – especially in the more remote and rural areas of Scotland.
“A second helicopter will add very significant capability to the entire Scottish air ambulance fleet, bringing fast medical care to sick and injured patients as well as quick life-saving transport to hospital if required.
“Everyone in the country should be very grateful to SCAA for their massive fundraising effort and to the Scottish public for their generous ongoing support.
Director of Babcock’s onshore business, Hayley Belmore, said: “It’s a real honour to be working with our partner SCAA to bring this brand new air ambulance service to Scotland.
“We are looking forward to helping SCAA deliver a truly lifesaving service.”
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.
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
