Lives on the Line: Cornwall Air Ambulance Secures Second Lifesaving Helicopter

Cornwall Air Ambulance has reached a major milestone, confirming it has hit its ambitious target to fund a second lifesaving helicopter.

Following an 18-month appeal, the charity has now surpassed its goal of raising £2.85million to purchase a highly advanced AW169 aircraft.

A Historic Moment for the Charity

The success of the Heli2 Appeal is down to the remarkable generosity of supporters across Cornwall, the Isles of Scilly and beyond, who rallied to make the vision a reality.

Tim Bunting, Chief Executive, said: “This is a seismic moment in your charity’s history, for the first time owning two helicopters. We are beyond thrilled to have reached the target to provide this second lifesaving aircraft for the people of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. This has only been possible thanks to the incredible community spirit of our county, and to all the people far and wide who have donated and made this a reality. On behalf of everyone at the charity, from the aircrew, to the staff, to the volunteers, I want to say a wholehearted and massive thank you for helping us to save even more lives for years to come.”

Boosting Capability and Resilience

With the addition of the second AW169 helicopter, the charity’s ability to respond rapidly to emergencies will be significantly enhanced.

Adam Smith, Unit Chief Pilot, explained: “The AW169 is a highly capable and technologically advanced HEMS aircraft. Owning the second one will significantly increase our aircraft availability, enabling us to deliver our critical care service by air for 19 hours a day, 365 days a year, whenever the Cornish weather allows.”

Adam added: “Helicopters have high maintenance needs, and owning an additional AW169 will mean that during any maintenance periods, whether planned or unplanned, we’ll have the best-suited aircraft ready and available to respond to missions. This means we’ll be able to provide the very best service to almost every patient who needs us.”

Ready for Service This Summer

The second helicopter, registered as G-CNLL, is currently undergoing its medical fit at Gama Aviation in Gloucester. This process, which will take several months, involves equipping the rear cabin to transform the helicopter into a fully operational critical care resource.

Once complete, the new aircraft is expected to go into operation this summer, helping Cornwall Air Ambulance continue its vital mission of saving lives across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.