This October, Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance is set to welcome a new state-of-the-art H145 D3 aircraft to our Aberdeen base. One of the most impressive features of our larger helicopter model is its state-of-the-art medical fit-out, designed specifically for air ambulance missions in Scotland.
Russell Mackay, Operations Manager at SCAA, said: “This is the first time SCAA has acquired a newly manufactured aircraft and been able to design a medical fit out for our unique operating model in Scotland. Having the ability to purpose design our medical fit-out will bring massive benefits to patient care.”
Every aspect within the aircraft has been carefully considered to ensure best use of space, maintain flexibility, and future-proof the design to suit changing healthcare demands.
Key differences between the H145 and the H135 model of aircraft that it will be replacing include additional seating, a more sophisticated stretcher, increase in stowage areas, and much more (see benefits listed below).
The installation time for SCAA’s customised Bucher aeromedical fit-out is 18 days in total, this will take place from 30 June – 18 July 2025.
SCAA’s advanced medical fit-out boasts a number of immeasurable benefits. These include:
Benefits of the H145 medical fit-out:
-
There will be six seats in the aircraft – two in the front and four in the back. Where we were previously limited to three clinicians onboard, we can now carry four for all EMRS (doctor-led) HEMS missions bringing specialist care and additional resource to major incidents whilst not impacting our range and usable load.
-
We will have a Rollin stretcher. Features include an adjustable backrest to have a patient in different positions, the stretcher can be loaded/unloaded by one person and the improved design means it can travel across more challenging surfaces. It has medical device rails for holding equipment and can improve the transition of the patient from the aircraft to the hospital, and an improved loading ramp from the rear. Patients will have more comfort and there are improvements to the maximum patient we can carry.
-
All the main components of the fit out are removable and with the addition of improved flooring, the aircraft can be easily cleaned reducing the time to get airborne between missions.
-
Specifically designed for our equipment and lightweight.
-
Improved cabin lighting for use during NVIS operations at night and improved additional exterior lighting for at the scene.
-
Useful for quick access to light and regularly used equipment.
-
Access to the specifically designed unit from both the outside and inside of the aircraft. Kit is stored safely, efficiently and can be adjusted for flexibility in the future.
-
Improved access to medical devices improving patient care with electric charging built in.
-
Improved training for crew members on medical fit out use.
“Having the ability to carry extra clinicians and specialist care gives us increased flexibility to respond to every mission type throughout the country and reach every patient,” Russell points out.
Joint lead paramedic at Helimed 79 in Aberdeen, Claire Allan, explained: “As the working area in the aircraft will increase, this will make our job slightly easier in terms of space availability.
“The comfort for the patient will definitely increase and family members will take comfort in being able to travel with their injured loved one in certain circumstances.”
Our new H145 air ambulance will not only contain the latest state-of-the-art medical equipment and design, but it also comes equipped with weather radar and advanced night vision capabilities – an upgrade already live at our Perth-based Helimed 76.
SCAA’s operational enhancements, however, come at a cost. The charity has launched Operation Skyward - a major nationwide fundraising campaign to help us raise the extra £2 million needed to launch our new aircraft.
For more information, or to donate towards our new life-saving aircraft, visit:
www.scaa.org.uk/operation-skyward/
