New night-time landing sites for air ambulance

Devon's air ambulance can now land at surveyed sites without floodlights

Two new landing sites have been made available for Devon's air ambulance service, the charity has said.

The community sites, at Kingskerswell and North Bovey, are the first to be set up without floodlights, allowing the Exeter-based helicopters to land after dark, it added.

The charity said floodlights were no longer required at surveyed landing sites following a review involving the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

It said its helicopters were fitted with night vision goggles and its pilots were appropriately trained.

Graham Coates, landing site manager at Devon Air Ambulance, said improvements in night-flying technology meant the service was capable of landing at sites without lighting.

He said this would allow the service to reach patients as "quickly and as safely as possible".

"Kingskerswell and North Bovey are our first community landing sites without lighting columns," he said.

"I am looking forward to launching many more in communities across Devon which will be of huge benefit to those who need our emergency critical care in the future."

Councillor John Radford, from Kingskerswell Parish Council, said the landing site in a playing field "could potentially be lifesaving to anyone needing it in the surrounding area".

Councillor Sally Button, from North Bovey Parish Council, added she was "delighted" the village now had a landing site.