London’s Air Ambulance Charity appoints new Chief Pilot

London’s Air Ambulance Charity (LAAC) has announced the appointment of Captain Sam Tompkins as Chief Pilot.

He has been flying with the service since 2022 and will assume his new role in December 2023.

In an aviation career spanning 20 years, Captain Sam Tompkins began flying in helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) in 2013 for organizations including Specialist Aviation Services and Essex & Hertfordshire Air Ambulance. Before he started flying, Tompkins worked as an Emergency Ambulance Technician in the southwest of England.

In his new role, Tompkins will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of LAAC’s aviation operations. This includes managing flight operations, ensuring safety standards are upheld, and working closely with the service’s medical teams to provide rapid, lifesaving care to those in need across the city.

He will officially assume his role as Chief Pilot in December. His appointment comes at a significant time for the charity’s aviation team, with the arrival of two new Airbus H135s scheduled for autumn 2024.

Captain Sam Tompkins said: “I am honored and humbled to have been appointed as the Chief Pilot of London’s Air Ambulance Charity.

“For the last year I’ve had the pleasure of seeing the incredible work done across this organization every day and I am excited to lead our dedicated team of pilots as we continue to save lives and make a positive impact on the community we serve.”

Jonathan Jenkins, CEO, LAAC, added: “We are thrilled to have Captain Sam Tompkins as our new Chief Pilot. From a technical side his extensive aviation experience speaks for itself, but what stands out about Sam is his unwavering dedication to our mission.

“At the core of everything we do are our patients, and, in Sam, we have a Chief Pilot who is utterly dedicated to providing the highest level of care to the people of London.”