Air ambulance on lookout for two new bases (Read 393 times)

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Air ambulance on lookout for two new bases
Second helicopter plan sparks move

Julie Hemmings
THE county's air ambulance service could start flying out of new bases in North and South Yorkshire once the charity acquires a second helicopter.
The Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) charity hopes to place a reservation for a second MD902 Explorer next month but it will not be ready for 18 months.
In the meantime, YAA is looking for an alternative to Leeds Bradford Airport where fog can keep the helicopter grounded. YAA chief executive Martin Eede said two bases elsewhere might make better sense once the charity has a second aircraft.
The existing helicopter may be moved to Sheffield, Doncaster or Barnsley South Yorkshire.
The new aircraft would be based in North Yorkshire, possibly in the Harrogate district, with a satellite station at Malton.
Mr Eede stressed the search was still at a "very early stage".
"That would guarantee a 365-day-a-year service," he said. "This is an exciting development for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance as it will ensure flexibility so we can provide an even speedier response to patients in the area."
Consultation is under way about the proposed base at Malton, which would operate during the summer to cope with the added demand in that part of the county from holidaymakers, when the number of incidents almost doubles.
Air ambulance bosses have chosen a site off the A169, to the north of the Eden Camp Museum. The flight from Leeds to Whitby currently takes about 20 minutes. From Malton, the journey time would be halved, to less than 10 minutes.
If residents back the proposals, the charity will lodge a formal planning application for the base, which would include a landing pad, offices and fuel tanks.
Mr Eede said public backing for the air ambulance was essential whichever location was picked.
"We do this because we're entirely reliant on public support," he said.
"We can only go somewhere where people wholeheartedly back the idea."
At present, the air ambulance flies 1,000 missions each year, averaging three a day and Mr Eede stressed that the MD902 Explorer is the quietest helicopter in its class.
"We now know we're missing 300 jobs annually because we are on other jobs, we're fogbound or the helicopter is off-line for repairs or routine maintenance."
Having a second aircraft would enable some night flights, moving patients needing specialist care between hospitals.
n Residents are invited to the open evening at the War Memorial Hall in Old Malton on Tuesday, March 7, between 6pm and 9pm. Plans will be on show and charity staff will be on hand to answer questions.