New aviation partner for WAAC

Gama Aviation was originally due to begin operations under the new contract on 1 January 2024 – but, to avoid the complex handover process taking place over the Christmas and New Year holidays, all parties have agreed to bring forward the transition date.

Gama Aviation was awarded the £65 million contract in February, following an 18-month procurement process.

The new contract will also see WAAC’s existing EC135 helicopter being replaced by a fourth Airbus H145. The contract also covers the operation and maintenance of this and WAAC’s other three primary H145s, as well as an additional backup aircraft of the same type.

“This has been a complex 12-month transition process and I would like to thank all those involved – our outgoing and incoming aviation partners and our medical partners, the Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service,” said David Gilbert, Chair of Trustees at WAAC.

“We are also pleased to see that a majority of the pilots and engineers who worked with Wales Air Ambulance as part of the previous contract will be joining Gama Aviation to continue working with our lifesaving service. It just goes to show how passionate they are about serving Wales and saving lives.”