Cornwall Air Ambulance launches appeal to fund new helicopter

The charity is aiming to become the first in the UK to own two top specification AW169 helicopters

Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust has launched a fundraising appeal to buy a second helicopter.

It claims a second helicopter would enable its services to be available more often, if one aircraft is out of service for maintenance reasons.

The 'Heli 2 Appeal' aims to raise £2.85m by 2025, so the charity can purchase a second AW169 aircraft.

Chief executive Tim Bunting, said it would enable them to "provide the very best service".

He said: "It's about the patients that we're able to support and the lives we're able to save"

"A second aircraft will give us the resilience to ensure there's always a helicopter available to serve the people of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly."

Steven Webb was transported from Cornwall to Salisbury by the first ever Cornwall air ambulance helicopter

Former mayor of Truro, Steven Webb, broke his neck when he was 18 and required transportation by Cornwall air ambulance.

He said: "You don't have to go far before you find a story that the air ambulance has saved someone's life.

"It's so valuable and you never know when your family might need it.

"All services are under so much pressure at the moment, we cannot afford to have the downtime of having one air ambulance out with maintenance issues."

The new aircraft would provide a second crew with the same kit, to deliver their services

Adam Smith, unit chief pilot, said: "The second aircraft means we can deliver the 19 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year service.

"Currently we can't always deliver that due to maintenance , but a second aircraft would certainly provide that consistency."

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