Great North Air Ambulance raise £500,000 as part of Operation SOS
The Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) has raised £500,000 in just three months as part of Operation SOS, raise £500,000.
This represents 20% of its £2.5 million target which is needed to secure the deposit for a third helicopter to safeguard the future of the charity’s operations.
As a charity, GNAAS does not receive government funding, and its current aircraft are coming to the end of their economically viable life due to parts shortages, rising maintenance costs and extended downtime.
With demand for its service continuing to grow, the charity has developed plans for a stronger future, investing in three state-of-the-art Airbus H145 D2 helicopters.
Financing has already been secured for the first two new aircraft through careful financial planning, but the charity is urgently appealing for public support to secure the deposit for a vital third aircraft, ensuring it is never grounded.
Phil Lambert, chief pilot at GNAAS, said: “With only two helicopters we live on a knife-edge. If one is in maintenance and the other develops a fault, we’re grounded, and that means we can’t answer a 999 call by helicopter.
“A third aircraft changes everything. It gives us resilience and guarantees that when one is being serviced, two remain ready to fly.”
Since the appeal launched in November last year, GNAAS teams have responded to more than 420 incidents, delivering advanced care to patients across the North of England and the Isle of Man.
Joe Garcia MBE, Chief Executive Officer at GNAAS, said: “Reaching £500,000 in the first three months of Operation SOS is an incredible achievement and a powerful demonstration of the trust and generosity shown by our supporters.”