To Be Operated By Specialist Aviation Services For HEMS Missions

The Kent, Surrey & Sussex Air Ambulance Trust (KSSAAT) has selected the new generation AW169 twin-engine light intermediate helicopter to perform emergency medical service missions. The aircraft will be operated by Specialist Aviation Services (SAS) for the KSSAAT. 

KSSAAT, a prime HEMS provider and the first, and presently only, air ambulance in the UK to fly 24/7 throughout the year, will be the first HEMS customer to introduce the AW169 into service in the UK in autumn 2015. The AW169 was selected following an extensive evaluation process of several  competing types by the Charity. The AW169 was selected for its class leading characteristics, superior mission capabilities and safety features, which will deliver increased mission effectiveness in its daily life-saving duties. This contract will continue the success already achieved by the AW169 in the UK helicopter market which includes Specialist Aviation Services’ order for six aircraft in 2012.   

“We selected the AW169 two years ago at the previous Farnborough International Air Show, as it offered the best capabilities and performance in its class and we felt that it could greatly enhance the operations of our customers," said Henk Schaeken, Managing Director, Specialist Aviation Services (SAS). "We underlined this belief by taking orders and options on six aircraft.

“The decision by Kent, Surrey & Sussex Air Ambulance Trust supports our early commitment to the AW169, and strengthens the long-standing and excellent relationship between our organisations," he continued. 'We are engaging with KSSAAT in defining the final aircraft configuration and medical fit, which will be designed to meet their requirements and expand the medical capabilities they bring to the incident scene.”

Adrian Bell, CEO Kent, Surrey & Sussex Air Ambulance said ”KSSAAT has been operating a 24/7 Emergency Medical Service for over a year now and has learned considerably from nine months plus of full night flying operations. One very clear, but not unexpected lesson is that we need to replace one of our older MD902 aircraft and increase our overall aviation capability for the longer term benefit of our patients. We have therefore undertaken an exhaustive review of all relevant aircraft types and the AW169 is the only helicopter that fully meets our increasingly demanding clinical and operational requirements.”

He went on to say “We are in no doubt whatsoever that the AW169 is the right aircraft to give us the resilient, sustainable, safe and effective capabilities so vital for our service and we therefore look forward to working with Specialist Aviation Services and AgustaWestland to bring this emergency medical helicopter into service next autumn as the launch customer in the UK. Our decision to select the AW169 is based on the aircraft performance, inherent safety features, payload, cabin size and design, and its many advanced features which will allow us to change the way we operate in a manner that will greatly benefit the patients we carry.”

(Image provided by AgustaWestland)

FMI: www.agustawestland.com, www.kssairambulance.org.uk.