Fourth helicopter added to Wales Air Ambulance fleet

The launch of a fourth helicopter by Wales Air Ambulance will give Wales the largest air ambulance operation in the UK, according to the charity. The new chopper, an EC135 T2e, will operate out of capital city Cardiff.

Wales Air Ambulance has flown around 24,000 missions across the country since its launch in 2001, and hopes that the new addition will help the charity to accept more missions, and save more lives, across Wales.

The helicopter is to be unveiled at Swansea Air Show, which runs 1 July to 3 July, and will then be used for training for the rest of July. Wales Air Ambulance say it will become operational in August.

Wales Air Ambulance chief executive Angela Hushes said: “It’s always been our vision to expand our fleet so we can help more patients, and to have a base in Cardiff. Although the city has a full transport infrastructure, its success as a commercial capital means air transfer to hospital can be the quickest way to convey patients.”