3 Dec 2010

UK weather: new air ambulance takes off

Channel 4 News has been given exclusive access to the Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland air ambulance (DLRAA) – a new £4.5m aircraft flying its first missions in the December snow.

As heavy snow blankets the Midlands, the service is being thrust into action immediately as calls come in from those needing emergency treatment but who cannot be reached by road.

Channel 4 News’ Nick Martin was just in time to watch the service’s maiden voyage, its “baptism of snow”.

Captain Ian Welsh AND paramedics Sonia Jones and Karl Bexon will fly at a top speed of 200 miles per hour and can be airborne in just 45 seconds.

Cpt. Welsh said: “This machine is brand new – it’s only flown 25 hours.

“It has powerful engines and is extremely quick for a helicopter.

“It’s the ideal machine, especially in this weather, because we can get to the patient so fast and we can get them to hospital.”

The air ambulance service, which is based at East Midlands airport, is a charity and receives no government funding, relying totally on public donations, fundraising activities and sponsorship.

It had expected to answer around five calls per day, but with adverse weather, it predicts it will answer many more. The average cost per mission is around £1000 and the annual basic running cost of the service is over £1.5 million.

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