UK’s first H145 saves lives with East Anglian Air Ambulance

22 April 2015


The United Kingdom's first H145 (formerly the EC145 T2), operated by Bond Air Services on behalf of East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA), has completed its first mission transporting a patient to the Royal London Hospital. The aircraft began operations with charitable organization EAAA on April 2, 2015. The twelfth H145 to be produced by Airbus Helicopters, the aircraft joins the organization’s H135, which has been in operation since 2000.
UK’s first H145 saves lives with East Anglian Air Ambulance
“Our first mission flying the H145 was a challenging case involving a very seriously injured patient who required a ventilated transfer in the new helicopter to the Royal London Hospital,” said Dr. Jeremy Mauger, part of the medical team that flew the inaugural shift in Cambridge. “I have worked on numerous air ambulances over the years, but the H145 is without question the best that I have flown in. It has more space, better equipment, and is smoother than I had imagined. The loading with the new stretcher worked superbly and we were able to make a significant difference in the care of that patient.”

The introduction of the H145 equips the EAAA with a helicopter capable of carrying two flight crew members, three clinicians and one patient. It provides a considerable increase in endurance and performance, with fuel capacity for more than two hours of flight and a range of 300 nautical miles (335 miles). It is able to reach patients in remote locations within 25 minutes.
UK’s first H145 saves lives with East Anglian Air Ambulance
“The H145 is the next major step in our journey for continuous improvement in pre-hospital emergency care across East Anglian,” said Andrew Egerton Smith, founder and chairman of EAAA. “The H145 has greater power, more space, greater endurance, and, most importantly, will enhance our delivery of clinical expertise to patients.”

Among the pilots employed by Bond to fly the H145 is His Royal Highness Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, who will take the controls this summer.

Since 2000, the EAAA has performed more than 16,000 missions and has grown from one helicopter flying one day a week to two state-of-the-art helicopters available every day.