Welcome for Take-off of Renewed Air Ambulance

West Cornwall MP, Andrew George, welcomed the arrival of a second (new) air ambulance into the service of Cornwall Air Ambulance today (12th Jan 2015).  Mr George, who is a member of the Commons’ Health Select Committee and has campaigned for investments in extended night flying capacity, better landing facilities at Derriford and for a second helicopter, hopes to call in later in the day (he cannot attend the formal launch in the morning) to meet aircrew, pilots and engineers to welcome the new MD902 helicopters into service. The new craft will increase the capacity of the Air Ambulance service to respond to at least another fifty call outs each year.  The improved capacity and navigational facilities of the new helicopters will provide a twelve hour air ambulance service during the winter months instead of the current eight hour service.

Mr George said, “I warmly congratulate all at Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust on its initiative. It’s great to have the new Air Ambulance helicopters and the extended service they will provide.  The Cornwall Air Ambulance team are doing an excellent job, providing an invaluable service, especially in the more remote communities like west Cornwall and the Scillies, and especially since major trauma (A&E) services are now provided by Derriford rather than Treliske, making the west especially vulnerable.”