The Devon Air Ambulance charity has launched an appeal to help Westcountry Ambulance Services NHS Trust (WAST) finance the leasing of a new aircraft from Bond Air Services – an EC135T. The extra leasing charges are estimated at an extra £200,000 per year.

Said WAST spokesman Darren Gibson: “Obviously the EC135 will be more expensive to operate than our current Bolkow, so the appeal will assist us with leasing charges, pilotage, engineering etc.”

The Bo105TDF which WAST currently operates in Devon replaced its former Bolkow aircraft after a crash in May of this year. The aircraft clipped a tree with the tail rotor while on the way to a road traffic accident (RTA). Thanks to the pilot’s skill, no one suffered more injuries than whiplash.

Sarah Burden of the Devon Air Ambulance charity said: “Luckily, it was a minor RTA so the people were able to be transported by land ambulance.

“Our replacement is West Midlands Air Ambulance’s former helicopter. They’ve just taken delivery of an EC135 which is what we’re after, so we’re very jealous.”

With regard to the appeal, she said: “It was launched just after the crash and has so far received excellent support from individuals, organisations and businesses as well.

“It was going to be launched anyway but we just brought it forward after the crash. The EC135 will give WAST more speed and will enable them to carry more patients.”

With the Bo105TDF, WAST is able to transport two stretcher patients and three crew, including two pilots and a paramedic. The EC135 can accommodate two patients plus two walking wounded (who are seated) plus the crew.

Gibson added: “We’ve been operating Bolkows since 1987 and they're tried and tested aircraft. The recent crash is the only incident which has happened in all this time.”

Meanwhile, a Bond Air Services EC135 has begun operating in St Magwan, Newquay, for Cornwall Air Ambulance (a subdivision of WAST). The new helicopter replaces a red Bolkow, which has carried out more than 12,000 missions.

Director of Cornwall Air Ambulance Richard Taylor said: “The Bolkow has been a wonderful aircraft and has done everything we have asked of it. But we have to move with the times, and the EC135 will give added benefits to patient care, enabling paramedics far easier access to patients while in the air.

“There are also the advantages of a shorter start-up and shut-down time and the benefit of being able to load stretchers from the side of the aircraft as well as through rear doors.”

This EC135 features navigation equipment which includes single pilot IFR, autopilot, ‘glass cockpit’ instrumentation with LCD multiphase display, colour radar and ‘moving map’ global positioning system.

Bond provides air ambulance cover from 11 of its 15 UK bases. In the first phase of a £40 million order for 15 aircraft over five years, Bond has taken delivery of six EC135s, all of them contracted for air ambulance and police work. The second delivery phase will commence in mid-2002.