Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance launched its new state-of-the-art Airbus H145 D3 on operations following a month of pilot and paramedic training and familiarisation flights since the aircraft’s arrival in Scotland.
SCAA Chief Executive David Craig said this first mission marked a new era in pre-hospital emergency care delivery for the charity.
“Everyone at SCAA is immensely proud of delivering this new generation of Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) for the people of Scotland – the same people who have supported us year on year to allow us to sustain our life-saving service.
“Our thoughts are, however, with the patient involved in today’s emergency call out and their family.
“SCAA’s mission is simple: to provide rapid, high-quality medical care in the air, to transport patients to hospitals in the most efficient way possible, and to ensure that no one in Scotland should die because help can't get there in time,” he said. “It is reassuring to see our new H145 D3 (G-NSCA) deliver the role it was specially customised to fulfil.”
The new helicopter is the most capable aircraft of its kind in the UK, operating in the most challenging environment. The aircraft’s medical fit-out has been specially designed for SCAA’s unique operating model and represents a step change in helicopter pre-hospital care delivery.
The Aberdeen-based aircraft offers greater range, endurance and capacity which significantly enhances SCAA’s life-saving service and the charity’s ability to meet the ever-growing demand on pre-hospital emergency response teams.
The newest addition to SCAA’s fleet took just over 15 minutes to reach its first emergency, where paramedics worked alongside Scottish Ambulance Service colleagues before airlifting the patient to hospital care at Aberdeen - a journey that would take nearer an hour by road.
