Yorkshire Air Ambulance
Encyclopedia
Yorkshire Air Ambulance is a dedicated helicopter emergency service
for the Yorkshire and the Humber
region of England. It was introduced on 1 April 2000, and currently operates two aircraft. The helicopters provide a swift response time and access to isolated locations, such as beaches, cliff-tops and moorland areas which are inaccessible by road. The Yorkshire Air Ambulance is maintained by the Yorkshire Air Ambulance Trust, a registered charity.
Its original aircraft is based at Leeds Bradford Airport and has landing pads at various major hospitals around the region including Leeds General Infirmary
and James Cook University Hospital
in Middlesbrough
. In October 2007 a second helicopter based at Sheffield City Airport
entered service.
The airport closed at the end of April 2008 but a heliport facility was still provided for the use of the Air Ambulance and the South Yorkshire Police helicopter. In November 2010 the operational base for the Sheffield-based aircraft was moved to Bagby
Airport near Thirsk
.
The second YAA helicopter (Helimed 98, registration G-CEMS) was originally based at Sheffield City Airport but moved in November 2010 to Bagby Airport near Thirsk
. A spokesman for the charity commented: "What we're looking to do is provide the very best coverage for the whole of Yorkshire, for the five million population.
"The people of Yorkshire are better served with an aircraft at Thirsk and one at Leeds Bradford."
. The Explorer is used extensively in an air ambulance capacity throughout the UK. It has five rotor blades to ensure a smooth flight which can prove particularly beneficial for patients suffering head or spinal injuries. Twin turbine engines give it a cruising speed of 160 mph (71.5 m/s), and skid landing gear allows it to cope with all types of terrain. Its compact dimensions allow it to land in confined spaces, yet it has room to carry one stretcher patient. It contains all equipment found on any front-line ambulance plus other special items.
Currently the charity uses two MD902 Explorer helicopters, updated versions of the original helicopter.
solely maintained by donations as it receives no form of official funding. Medical and paramedic staff, however, are provided by the National Health Service
. The resident population and visitors to Yorkshire finance the Air Ambulance by donations, and various fund-raising events.
All donations received are administered by Yorkshire Air Ambulance Donation Office.
presenter Richard Hammond
following his high-speed accident at the former-RAF Elvington
airfield near York
. Following this operation a high profile charity appeal was launched, by 16 October contributions to the appeal have so far amounted to £185,770, although payment authorisation of one donation of £50,000 was "declined".
programme Helicopter Heroes
, which follows the crew during a typical working day.
for the 2009-10 season.
Emergency service
Emergency services are organizations which ensure public safety and health by addressing different emergencies. Some agencies exist solely for addressing certain types of emergencies whilst others deal with ad hoc emergencies as part of their normal responsibilities...
for the Yorkshire and the Humber
Yorkshire and the Humber
Yorkshire and the Humber is one of the nine regions of England and formally one of the government office regions. It covers most of the historic county of Yorkshire, along with the part of northern Lincolnshire that was, from 1974 to 1996, within the former shire county of Humberside. The...
region of England. It was introduced on 1 April 2000, and currently operates two aircraft. The helicopters provide a swift response time and access to isolated locations, such as beaches, cliff-tops and moorland areas which are inaccessible by road. The Yorkshire Air Ambulance is maintained by the Yorkshire Air Ambulance Trust, a registered charity.
Its original aircraft is based at Leeds Bradford Airport and has landing pads at various major hospitals around the region including Leeds General Infirmary
Leeds General Infirmary
Leeds General Infirmary, also known as the LGI or, more correctly, The General Infirmary at Leeds, is a large teaching hospital based in the centre of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England and is part of the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust....
and James Cook University Hospital
James Cook University Hospital
The James Cook University Hospital is a 1010 bed major tertiary referral hospital and district general hospital in Middlesbrough, England, lying on Marton Road, a major route into the centre of Middlesbrough . It forms part of the South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, along with the Friarage...
in Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough is a large town situated on the south bank of the River Tees in north east England, that sits within the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire...
. In October 2007 a second helicopter based at Sheffield City Airport
Sheffield City Airport
Sheffield City Airport was a small airport located in Sheffield that is now closed. It was located in the Tinsley Park area of the city, near the M1 motorway and Sheffield Parkway, and opened in 1997...
entered service.
The airport closed at the end of April 2008 but a heliport facility was still provided for the use of the Air Ambulance and the South Yorkshire Police helicopter. In November 2010 the operational base for the Sheffield-based aircraft was moved to Bagby
Bagby
Bagby is a village and civil parish in the Hambleton district of North Yorkshire, England, just east of Thirsk. The parish had a population of 470 according to the 2001 census....
Airport near Thirsk
Thirsk
Thirsk is a small market town and civil parish in the Hambleton district of North Yorkshire, England. The local travel links are located a mile from the town centre to Thirsk railway station and to Durham Tees Valley Airport...
.
Operations
One helicopter (Helimed 99, registration G-SASH) is based at a hangar at Leeds Bradford Airport (EGNM), which enables servicing and maintenance to be carried out overnight, leading to even quicker response times in many parts of the county. It can be airborne in two minutes of a 999 call and flies at 140 mph (62.6 m/s) enabling fast paramedic support to the patient.Thirsk
Thirsk is a small market town and civil parish in the Hambleton district of North Yorkshire, England. The local travel links are located a mile from the town centre to Thirsk railway station and to Durham Tees Valley Airport...
. A spokesman for the charity commented: "What we're looking to do is provide the very best coverage for the whole of Yorkshire, for the five million population.
"The people of Yorkshire are better served with an aircraft at Thirsk and one at Leeds Bradford."
The aircraft
The first helicopter was a MD Helicopter MDH900 ExplorerMD Helicopters MD Explorer
|-See also:-References:* Jackson, Paul. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003–2004. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Information Group, 2003. ISBN 0 7106 2537 5.-External links:* *...
. The Explorer is used extensively in an air ambulance capacity throughout the UK. It has five rotor blades to ensure a smooth flight which can prove particularly beneficial for patients suffering head or spinal injuries. Twin turbine engines give it a cruising speed of 160 mph (71.5 m/s), and skid landing gear allows it to cope with all types of terrain. Its compact dimensions allow it to land in confined spaces, yet it has room to carry one stretcher patient. It contains all equipment found on any front-line ambulance plus other special items.
Currently the charity uses two MD902 Explorer helicopters, updated versions of the original helicopter.
Cost and financing
The Yorkshire Air Ambulance is a charitable organizationCharitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
solely maintained by donations as it receives no form of official funding. Medical and paramedic staff, however, are provided by the National Health Service
National Health Service (England)
The National Health Service or NHS is the publicly funded healthcare system in England. It is both the largest and oldest single-payer healthcare system in the world. It is able to function in the way that it does because it is primarily funded through the general taxation system, similar to how...
. The resident population and visitors to Yorkshire finance the Air Ambulance by donations, and various fund-raising events.
All donations received are administered by Yorkshire Air Ambulance Donation Office.
Richard Hammond's incident 2006
In September 2006 the original helicopter was involved in transporting the Top GearTop Gear (current format)
Top Gear is a British television series about motor vehicles, primarily cars. It began in 1977 as a conventional motoring magazine show. Over time, and especially since a relaunch in 2002, it has developed a quirky, humorous style...
presenter Richard Hammond
Richard Hammond
Richard Mark Hammond is an English broadcaster, writer, and journalist most noted for co-hosting car programme Top Gear with Jeremy Clarkson and James May, as well as presenting Brainiac: Science Abuse on Sky 1.-Early life:...
following his high-speed accident at the former-RAF Elvington
RAF Elvington
RAF Elvington, located at Elvington, south east of York in Yorkshire was a Royal Air Force bomber base which operated from the beginning of World War II until 1992.-History:...
airfield near York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
. Following this operation a high profile charity appeal was launched, by 16 October contributions to the appeal have so far amounted to £185,770, although payment authorisation of one donation of £50,000 was "declined".
Hospital landing pads
- Castle Hill HospitalCastle Hill HospitalCastle Hill Hospital is an NHS hospital to the west of Cottingham, East Riding of Yorkshire, England, and is run by Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust.-History:...
Kingston upon HullKingston upon HullKingston upon Hull , usually referred to as Hull, is a city and unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It stands on the River Hull at its junction with the Humber estuary, 25 miles inland from the North Sea. Hull has a resident population of... - Leeds General InfirmaryLeeds General InfirmaryLeeds General Infirmary, also known as the LGI or, more correctly, The General Infirmary at Leeds, is a large teaching hospital based in the centre of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England and is part of the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust....
LeedsLeedsLeeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial... - Scarborough General HospitalScarborough General HospitalScarborough General Hospital is an NHS district general hospital in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, England. It is run by the Scarborough and NE Yorkshire Healthcare NHS Trust....
Scarborough - James Cook University HospitalJames Cook University HospitalThe James Cook University Hospital is a 1010 bed major tertiary referral hospital and district general hospital in Middlesbrough, England, lying on Marton Road, a major route into the centre of Middlesbrough . It forms part of the South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, along with the Friarage...
MiddlesbroughMiddlesbroughMiddlesbrough is a large town situated on the south bank of the River Tees in north east England, that sits within the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire...
T.V. programme
The Air Ambulance is also the subject of BBC OneBBC One
BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
programme Helicopter Heroes
Helicopter Heroes
Helicopter Heroes is a British daytime television series, following the lifesaving work of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance. First screened on BBC One in 2007, its first presenter was Top Gears Richard Hammond...
, which follows the crew during a typical working day.
Sponsorship
They were the kit sponsor of Huddersfield Town F.C.Huddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
for the 2009-10 season.