UK aeromedical service London's Air Ambulance Charity has appointed captain Sam Tompkins as chief pilot. Captain Tompkins, who has been flying with the service since 2022, will assume his new role in December 2023.

In an aviation career spanning 20 years, Tompkins began flying in HEMS in 2013 for organisations including Specialist Aviation Services and Essex & Hertfordshire Air Ambulance. Previously he worked as an emergency ambulance technician in the south west of England.

In his new role, Tompkins will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of London's Air Ambulance Charity's aviation operations. This includes managing flight operations, ensuring safety standards are upheld and working closely with the service's medical teams to provide rapid, life-saving care to those in need across the capital. His appointment comes at a significant time for the charity's aviation team, with the arrival of two new Airbus H135's scheduled for autumn 2024.

Tompkins says: "I am honoured and humbled to have been appointed as the chief pilot of London's Air Ambulance Charity. For the last year I've had the pleasure of seeing the incredible work done across this organisation every day, and I am excited to lead our dedicated team of pilots as we continue to save lives and make a positive impact on the community we serve."

CEO Jonathan Jenkins adds: "We are thrilled to have Captain Sam Tompkins as our new chief pilot. From a technical side his extensive aviation experience speaks for itself, but what stands out about Sam is his unwavering dedication to our mission. At the core of everything we do are our patients, and in Sam we have a chief pilot who is utterly dedicated to providing the highest level of care to the people of London."