Yorkshire Air Ambulance
Saturday 3rd November 2007

On Saturday November 3rd, North Yorkshire members visited the Yorkshire Air Ambulance base at Leeds Bradford Airport.

Nineteen of us were split into two groups to comply with  Health & Safety conditions, and enjoyed an hour long presentation.

As the first group, we were taken through the hanger to view the bright yellow M-D jet helicopter just outside. Paramedic Simon opened the door and explained in detail the history, costs and operational problems that the crews faced. He informed us of the good news that a second machine has recently joined the service. This will be based at Sheffield City Airport, and provide cover for the southern part of the county. It came as a surprise to some that the service cannot fly at night, costs approximately £6500 a day, and apart from the paramedics and medical supplies is entirely funded by  the Yorkshire Air Ambulance charity.

After taking photos, we were ushered back into the office to see the organizations internal workings, when just to emphasise how vital this service is, a call came in reporting an accident on the M62. Invited to watch the takeoff from the hanger doors, we stood back as the pilot, Simon the Paramedic, and a BBC TV cameraman quickly manned the aircraft, which with a gust of downwash, was airborne in minutes.

Click on image to enlarge

Back inside the control centre, we gathered around the dispatcher, Dave Gardener who with the aid of six monitors and three keyboards was able to show us the progress of the Helicopter towards the Yorks/Lancashire border, which it reached in twelve minutes, demonstrating how rapidly help can be on scene.

 We then joined our second group, who had witnessed the take off from the car park and presented Dave Gardener with our cheque for £405, raised through raffles and donations received during our Dales and End of Season Runs.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance Award Certificate

Click on image to enlarge

So a big thank you to all who bought raffle tickets on those events, you now know you have contributed
to a very worthy cause.

Report by

Paul Croft
North Yorkshire