New Air Ambulance.shtml - Latest News & Updates

This page has been archived and is no longer updated. Find out more about page archiving.

28 October 2014

	BBC Homepage

»	BBC Local Devon Things to do People & Places Nature History Religion & Ethics Arts and Culture BBC Introducing TV & Radio Sites near Devon Cornwall Dorset Somerset Related BBC Sites England
	Contact Us

Devon's new angel of the skies

The new Devon Air Ambulance

Each year, the Devon Air Ambulance takes to the skies on rescue missions to reach patients and fly them back to hospital. After 12 years, the old chopper has been replaced by a new one - but it doesn't come cheap!

HAVE YOUR SAY

Have you ever had to call out the Devon Air Ambulance?

We want to hear your stories why the helicopter is so important to a county like Devon.

Have your say on our message board.

SEE ALSO

Chestnut Appeal

Community features

More news features

WEB LINKS

Devon Air Ambulance Trust

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external websites.

PRINT THIS PAGE

View print friendly version of this page..

Devon's brand spanking new air ambulance took to the skies for the first time in August 2004, replacing the charity's orginal chopper which was in service for 12 years.

The new EC135 helicopter is bigger and faster than the previous one and has better facilities for patients.

It has greater fuel consumption and more powerful engines so it can stay in the air for longer and get to awkward places.

Up in the air!

The extra room inside also means that patients can be kept more comfortable.

But all this comes at a cost, and the Devon Air Ambulance Trust (DAAT) had to make sure the charity had £1m in reserves before going ahead with leasing the craft.

Operational costs will also increase - to £1.8 million a year from next year.

However, the investment is helping the Westcountry Ambulance Service Trust to reach patients in isolated parts of Devon - such as the coastline and Dartmoor.

The new helicopter follows three years of hard work and preparation by DAAT. Lyn Paver, of the trust, travelled to Oxford where the chopper was kitted out in a hangar.

Lyn Paver

"Wow - it's reality now," she said. "My first reaction is that we finally got there. We've managed it.

"For two or three years now we've been working towards it, and now we've got there."

The air ambulance is called out dozens of times each year, and can literally be a life-saver.

The air ambulance trust's fund-raising efforts are non-stop, and relies on the support of the public.

You can help by visiting the trust's website and clicking onto the Helping DAAT link.

Article published: August 2004