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A charity has issued an urgent appeal to raise funds for a vital third aircraft to keep saving lives across the area. The Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) is currently facing a crossroads as its two Dauphin N3 helicopters are coming to the end of their operational lives.
Funds have been secured for the deposits for two new Airbus H145 D2 helicopters. The charity is now on a £2.5m mission to secure a third aircraft to meet the increasing demand for its help across the region.
The charity says, if successful, Operation SOS: Secure Our Service will transform how its fleet operates. The new helicopters have a smaller footprint and a lighter frame making them ideal for landing in confined or remote areas, along with improved hover performance and lower operating and maintenance costs.
Each year the charity, which has bases in Eaglescliffe and Cumbria, responds to more than 2,000 critically ill or injured people in the North East, North Yorkshire, Cumbria and the Isle of Man. It operates two helicopters 365 days a year and also provides a night-time service in the North East and Cumbria using rapid response vehicles.
The charity does not receive Government funding and must therefore raise £9.3m a year through public donations to remain operational. As reported last week, the charity made a plea to the public to support its annual raffle after struggling to meet the halfway mark of its fundraising target.
Speaking of the aircraft appeal, Joe Garcia MBE, chief executive officer at GNAAS, said: "The public's support is the foundation of our service. They have fuelled our missions and equipped our crews. We would not turn to them with such a significant request unless it was absolutely critical. This isn't for our day-to-day running costs; this is a landmark investment in the future of emergency care for our entire community, and we face a rapidly closing window to make this happen.
"By donating to our appeal, they will be helping us purchase the helicopter that ensures we can reach the next child, parent or loved one who needs us. Returning to a three-helicopter fleet means that when one aircraft is undergoing essential maintenance, two more are ready to answer the call.
"It's the difference between a patient being reached in their moment of need, or not, and could be the difference between life and death." To donate the appeal visit the charity website.
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