New charity air ambulance has first call-out on first day of service

A new life-saving air ambulance has already taken to the skies this afternoon, on the first day of entering active service.

The aircraft, operated by Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA), officially commenced service today after years of campaigning and fundraising.

• Six facts you might not know about SCAA and the new Aberdeen air ambulance

Helimed 79, based in Dyce,  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.
At around 5.30pm today, the EC135 T2E and her crew were sent from Dyce to Turriff, after receiving a report of a medical emergency.

The team rapidly transported the patient to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.

The mission came after the crew carried out a “familiarisation run” with a circuit in the skies above Aberdeen, before a practice landing at the city’s flagship Royal Infirmary.

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