Devon Air Ambulance (DAA), the UK charity funded helicopter emergency service, became a co-recipient of a COVID-19 Response Award at the recent Institute of Collaborative Working (ICW) Awards, along with Babcock Aviation Onshore. Devon operates an H135 and an H145.

The award given was in recognition of work undertaken by DAA and Babcock in relation to the fit of custom-built barrier technologies, which separate the pilot from the cockpit treatment area on board DAA's air ambulances and other projects, including bespoke PPE visors for crew helmets.

Flight ops director Ian Payne says: “We are very proud of the partnership with Babcock. Working with it to ensure the fit of this bespoke barrier meant we were able to ensure the health and safety of our crews and get back in the air as soon as possible to help even more patients. These custom-built barriers didn't just help DAA but other similar organisations further afield.”

Paul Westaway of Babcock adds: “By rapidly designing and constructing custom-built barrier technologies for air ambulance helicopters, Babcock was able to give customers and onboard teams the confidence to fly life-saving air ambulance missions as the pandemic took hold. Our close work with Devon Air Ambulance was critical in getting its aircraft back in the sky and ready to support those in desperate need of help at a time when the UK's emergency services face unprecedented pressures.

“Collaboration is absolutely key to Babcock's work in markets across the globe. It underpins so much of the way we work, and we are incredibly proud that we and Devon Air Ambulance have been recognised by the ICW in this way.”