Congratulations and best wishes to our friends and close operational colleagues at the North West Air Ambulance who have now commenced operations with their third aircraft, an event which has been widely reported within social media, the papers, radio and on regional television.

The North West Air Ambulance is a charity which has been flying life-saving missions, in support of NWAS (and its predecessors) throughout the North West region since 1999, when operations first commenced with a single helicopter based at Blackpool Airport, and then developed with a second aircraft based at City Airport Manchester (Barton Airport as was)

Initially operating with MBB Bolkow 105 aircraft the service now utilises Eurocopter EC135 aircraft.

Right from its earliest days the Bolton MRT has worked in close co-operation with the NWAA and its aircraft over the years, forming many long lasting liaisons and friendships with the pilots and aircrew, many previous aircrew Paramedics of which we still see as NWAS emergency ambulance road crews, and within the NWAS HART Team for example.

Now with a third helicopter joining the The North West Air Ambulance, the NWAA Charity has announced that this third aircraft will greatly enhance the life-saving service being provided to patients across the region.

In addition this further aircraft will allow the charity to undertake more critical and intensive work at the scene of emergencies, allowing support of transfers between Intensive Care Units and providing a greater coverage to patients across entire region.

This third helicopter is currently flying in a red livery, unlike the more familiar all yellow livery of the other two aircraft. Currently the three helicopters, which are all Eurocopter EC135 aircraft are based at;

• G-SPHU, Radio Call sign ‘Helimed 08,’ Blackpool Airport, detached to Royal Preston Hospital. (Yellow livery)
• G-NWEM, Radio Call sign ‘Helimed 72,’ City Airport Manchester (Barton), detached to University Hospital of South Manchester, Wythenshawe. (Yellow livery)
• G-NWAE, Radio Call sign ‘Helimed 75,’ the new in service, third aircraft, currently at City Airport Manchester(Barton) but to be based within the Wirral at a dedicated NWAA facility. (red livery)

Yesterday (Monday 21st October) our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE journeyed to (the near to his house) City Airport Manchester, as one of his regular liaison visits to the NWAA flight based there, to view the new aircraft ‘Helimed 75,’ and its crew, which was operating from the airport joint with the based aircraft ‘Helimed 72.’