East Anglian Air Ambulance operates new H145

The East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) celebrates the arrival of its newest helicopter, the Airbus Helicopters H145. The new aircraft has begun service operation as Anglia Two based at Cambridge Airport and is the first of its kind to go into service in England.

Andrew Egerton Smith, founder and chairman of EAAA said: “The H145 is the next major step in our journey for continuous improvement of pre-hospital emergency care across East Anglia.”

The new helicopter will be able to carry enough fuel to fly for over two hours, with a range of 300 nautical miles (335 miles) and will provide EAAA with the capability of carrying two flight crew, three clinicians and a patient.

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Patrick Peal, chief executive of EAAA said: “We are indebted to the people of East Anglia for their support and encouragement which has seen us grow from one helicopter one day a week operation in 2000 to two state of the art helicopters with a doctor and critical care paramedic crew available every day of the year from 07:00 to 01:30.”

Alastair Wilson, medical director of EAAA said: “This new aircraft will allow us to continue to provide the very best pre-hospital care for people in need through injury or medical emergency.”

Jane Gutteridge, a former patient and guest at the celebration event said “My memory of the air ambulance is that of being so sure everything was going to be all right because their confidence cultivated mine. I wasn’t scared anymore.  And because Anglia One could get help to me so rapidly and the treatment  that the EAAA medics gave me meant that I was able to recover without infections and to return home two weeks earlier than predicted.”

Since the charity was set up in 2000, over 16,000 missions have been carried out across East Anglia.