London’s Air Ambulance’s used MD 902 Explorer is targeted to be operational in early 2016. Jon Le Ray/London’s Air Ambulance Photo
London’s Air Ambulance, the charity that delivers an advanced trauma team to critically injured people in London, has now acquired a second emergency medical helicopter thanks to generous contributions from the people and organizations of London. The used MD 902 Explorer, which is now registered as G-LNDN, is targeted to be operational in early 2016.
Following the launch of the charity’s ‘Your London, Your Helicopter’ fundraising campaign seven months ago, just over £4 million has been raised to date, with just under £2 million still needed to reach the £6 million target. This support has allowed the charity to acquire the aircraft and it will cover the costs of converting the helicopter to meet U.K. regulations however more money is still needed to fund associated running costs of operating the second aircraft and extending summer daylight flying hours for five years.
Graham Hodgkin, chief executive officer at London’s Air Ambulance, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have now completed the acquisition of our second MD 902 Explorer helicopter. While more money still needs to be raised and there is still more work to do to get the aircraft ready for U.K. HEMS operations, this is a truly exciting development for London and the biggest step-change in our service resilience in the charity’s history. Thank you to all those who have already contributed. We will continue to fundraise towards our ultimate target and ask everyone to help in any way they can. Anyone can donate, either online at yourhelicopter.london, or by texting HELICOPTER to 70800 to donate £5.”
Through the acquisition of a second helicopter and by extending its daylight flying hours in the summer months, the charity estimates it will be able to reach a further 400 patients per year by aircraft. This year, the charity flew longer hours in the summer months for the first time in its history and, as a result, it was able to reach, and treat, a further 67 patients by air.
In 2014, the charity was awarded £1 million from the LIBOR fund and a further £600,000 was raised from companies, charitable trusts and individual donors. The ‘Your London, Your Helicopter’ campaign was then launched in February 2015 in order to raise money to cover the cost of acquiring and sustaining the second helicopter and extending its daylight flying hours for five years.
Donations have been received widely from the people and organizations of London towards the campaign. The largest pledge to date is from the London Freemasons who have promised £2 million to the charity. Significant donations have also been received from BlackRock, Khoo Teck Puat UK Foundation and the Westminster Foundation. Hogan Lovells provided pro-bono legal work for the helicopter acquisition. Santander UK structured a comprehensive financing package to partially fund the acquisition over five years.
Why we need a second helicopter
When we are able to fly our single helicopter we can deliver the hospital to your side, wherever you are, up to eight times faster than in a response car. Our desire is to do this every day, every daylight hour possible. To achieve this, we needed a second helicopter. When London’s current (and only) emergency medical helicopter is offline for servicing or maintenance (planned or unplanned), our patients need us to have access to a second helicopter immediately. In 2014 our G-EHMS helicopter was offline for maintenance for the equivalent of 55 days. It has been offline for over the equivalent of 53 days this year.
