A separation screen was installed between the front and rear sections of the aircraft, separating the pilot cockpit from the patient’s treatment area. The ambulance’s aircrew will use throat microphones when they wear Level 3 PPE respirator masks to improve communication. Lastly, a new bracket was designed to enable a full-face visor to be worn on the aviation safety helmets.

Ian Payne, Flight Operations Director at Devon Air Ambulance, said: “Today marks the culmination of lots of hard work by our teams to address the challenges that led us to ground the aircraft at the end of March. These new modifications have been rapidly developed in collaboration with industry partners and approved for use by EU and UK aviation authorities, which demonstrates how we are all working together to collaborate and innovate during these difficult times.

“We would like to extend our thanks to Babcock Marine at Devonport Dockyard, Babcock Mission Critical Services Onshore in Gloucester and Headset Services Limited for all their support in getting these modifications in place in our EC135 helicopters that will help us and other air ambulances better meet the challenges of operating during Coronavirus.”

Nigel Hare, Operations Director at Devon Air Ambulance, added: “It’s clearly great news for Devon that we can restart our air operations and over the coming days and weeks we will carry out a phased reintroduction of our service. It’s important that we do this in a measured way, as our clinicians reinstate more advanced medical treatments whilst operating with new aircraft modifications and wearing in flight the PPE necessary to safeguard our patients and themselves from Coronavirus.”

From 6 May, the aircraft will be responding to patients from 7am to dusk every day.