DEVON AIR AMBULANCE TRUST

HELICOPTER LAUNCH

Coleman were delighted to be invited to join Devon Air Ambulance Trust at The Lord Haldon Hotel in Devon on a beautiful late summers day in September, to celebrate the launch of their very own air ambulance.

With a sweeping view of the Devon countryside before us, we were able to witness their existing leased helicopter in action, as it approached for landing only to receive a call-out on a rescue mission and so swoop off across the fields towards Exeter. This left us to inspect the new EC135 helicopter up close on the hotel lawn, shining in its new red and blue livery. DAATs Clinical Support Officer was on hand to demonstrate the many innovative bespoke details incorporated into the new aircraft and show off its capabilities.

This new Air Ambulance shares a base with the Devon & Cornwall Constabulary’s Air Support Unit.  There is also a second helicopter, which is leased and based in North Devon.  Both helicopters fly 10 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year at a cost of £3.5 million each year. 

Many people think that, as an ambulance service, Devon Air Ambulance are funded by the NHS however, as a charitable trust they actually are totally independent of Government funding, relying solely on voluntary donations and fundraising events to keep the helicopters airborne, nor are they eligible for Lottery grants.

DAAT provide a much needed emergency rescue service to Devon, transporting sick and injured people to hospitals from remote and hard to reach areas in the county, where roads are often narrow or heavily congested with tourist traffic. Since their inception in 1992, to date they have flown over 13,500 missions.

Working closely with the Trust and other parties involved, Coleman were able to tailor specialist insurance cover for the new helicopter, to sit alongside a programme of insurance for the Trust as a whole.

Coleman are proud of its association with the Devon Air Ambulance Trust and were delighted to be able to make a donation on the launch day to support the continuation of their sterling work.