Chief executive Tim Page said air ambulances in Germany and the Netherlands which had introduced night flying had been able to attend around 30% more cases.
He said: “We have got the aircraft on order and that’s been a big part of the battle. We have to get Civil Aviation Authority approval but we are pretty confident of all the aircraft providers in the country that Bond has the greatest existing capability in this area.”
In December 2011, the charity signed a new helicopter contract for the next seven years with operator Bond Air Services, which will mean it will get two new state-of-the-art helicopters by the end of 2013. These aircraft will be fitted for night flying. Bond, as the aircraft operator, has submitted a detailed plan to the Civil Aviation Authority on how it plans to train staff and operate safely at night.
Night operations will allow the EAAA doctor-paramedic team to attend seriously ill and injured patients in the East of England, regardless of time of day, and may also provide an inter- hospital transport service for critical patients who need care at specialist hospitals.
