YAA orders second winch-equipped helo
Yorkshire Air Ambulance has doubled up on its order with Airbus Helicopters, meaning that the manufacturer is now set to deliver two factory-new H145s to the charity.
image: Bruce Burns (left) and Peter Sunderland with YAA’s first new H145 on the production line in Munich (YAA)
Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) has doubled up on its order with Airbus Helicopters, meaning that the manufacturer is now set to deliver two factory-new H145s to the charity. Unusually for UK HEMS, both helicopters will be equipped with a rescue winch. No details have yet been revealed on the types of missions for which YAA will use the winches.
The service announced the replacement of its oldest MD902 Explorer aircraft, G-SASH, in mid-2015, and the first new helicopter will go into operation later this year. However, plans for the second H145 to replace its other Explorer, G-CEMS, have been brought forward. The second new helicopter, which is expected to cost around £5.7 million, is expected to join the YAA in the spring of 2017.
YAA chairman Peter Sunderland explained: “As part of our Vision of the Future strategy, our long-term plan had always been to eventually replace G-CEMS as well as G-SASH. However, due to diligent cost control, budgeting and the generosity of the people of Yorkshire, we have been able to bring forward these replacement plans.”
Vice-chairman Bruce Burns added: “We are beginning to see a growing number of maintenance issues with our current ageing MD902 Explorers as well as encountering mounting issues with obtaining spare parts. This is resulting in ever increasing costs of maintaining them both. Over the last couple of years we have encountered record spending on maintenance and this has been one of the major contributing factors in our decision to purchase not just one new helicopter, but two. Both of the new H145s will also be night capable, enabling us to operate for longer hours, which will be a massive benefit for the people of Yorkshire.” Burns also asserted that doubling up the order now will be more cost effective, and will minimise the period that the charity operates a mixed fleet.