From just one helicopter flying out of a temporary airbase, to three helicopters and a fleet of critical care cars serving a population of more than six million people, Midlands Air Ambulance Charity certainly has come a long way since 1991.
We can proudly say that our dedicated flight paramedics and doctors have responded to more than 80,000 incidents.
However, none of this would have been possible without our fantastic fundraisers and volunteers, so where did it all begin?
In 1991, a group of dedicated individuals saw a need and answered the call. What began as a vision to bring emergency medical care to the skies has grown into something that saves lives every single day across the Midlands.
A small group formally established ‘Air 5’, an innovative air ambulance service operating from Halfpenny Green Airport (now Wolverhampton Airport). The organisation operated a Bolkow aircraft and was among the first services of its kind in the UK, functioning five days weekly.
Just six days after launch, ‘Air 5’ responded to its inaugural flight. The crew attended to a woman who had fallen on a mountainside near Hay on Wye, Powys. They stabilised her and transported her to Herefordshire Hospital in approximately six minutes, marking the charity’s first successful operation.
The airbase relocated to RAF Cosford in Shropshire, which remains the operational hub today. ‘Air 5’ was subsequently rebranded as ‘County Air Ambulance’ to reflect coverage across eleven English and Welsh counties.
Operational demand and increased fundraising enabled expansion of service hours to ten hours daily, seven days weekly. The organisation subsequently extended coverage further, now providing a routine 13-hour daily service year-round, including night flights between illuminated helipads during winter.
‘County Air Ambulance’ launched its second helicopter and opened a new airbase at Strensham Services on the M5 in Worcestershire. This represented the first motorway-based air ambulance airbase in the country. An EC135 aircraft was leased from Babcock Mission Critical Services (formerly Bond Air Services), becoming the first such model used for ambulance purposes.
A third airbase opened at East Midlands Airport. Nine years later, this facility was relocated to Tatenhill in Staffordshire as part of regional air services reorganisation.
The original Bolkow helicopter stationed at RAF Cosford was replaced with another EC135 aircraft, also leased from Babcock Mission Critical Services.
‘County Air Ambulance’ adopted the name “Midlands Air Ambulance Charity” to strengthen community affiliation and recognition across the service region.
The organisation unveiled its first wholly owned EC135 helicopter (G-OMAA). Public donations and a £1.4 million legacy from Derek Bullivant funded the £4.5 million purchase. Originally based at RAF Cosford, the aircraft is now operational from Strensham.
Crews from Helimed03 and Helimed09 received the Emergency Services Award at the Pride of Britain Awards for their response to the Smiler Rollercoaster incident at Alton Towers.
Volunteer-managed Community Lit Landing Sites (‘CELLS’) were launched across Herefordshire and Shropshire to support helicopter emergency medical services in rural locations.
In collaboration with other UK air ambulance charities, the organisation initiated a research trial investigating whether administering blood products at incident scenes would benefit patients.
Three BMW X5 rapid response vehicles entered operation. These vehicles enable crews to respond swiftly to emergencies when helicopters are grounded due to adverse weather conditions.
A second wholly owned H145 helicopter (G-RMAA) launched, funded through supporter donations. The aircraft is based at RAF Cosford, with aircraft redistributed across the three airbases for optimised coverage.
On June 1st, a critical care car service launched in Birmingham and the Black Country, operational from 7am to 7pm. The vehicle is staffed by a critical care paramedic and serves patients experiencing cardiac emergencies, sepsis, strokes, or respiratory crises.
The organisation invested in advanced medical equipment kits and flight helmets for crew members, supported by a grant from the HELP Appeal.
A second critical care car equipped with advanced medical kits became operational in Worcester, running daily from 8am to 8pm, focused on treating cardiac events, sepsis, strokes, and respiratory emergencies.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, the charity launched Sky Champs, a virtual educational program designed to support parents working remotely with children aged four to seven years.
Planning approval was granted for a new integrated airbase and charity headquarters facility. Ground works commenced later that year.
The organisation became an independent emergency pre-hospital healthcare provider, directly employing critical care paramedics and pre-hospital emergency medicine doctors. It obtained Care Quality Commission registration and a Home Office medicines license.
The organisation completed its 70,000th mission, reflecting increasing demand for rapid emergency response across the region.
The new airbase and headquarters facility, positioned strategically on the Shropshire/Staffordshire border, features improved office spaces, visitor areas, and advanced clinical training facilities. The development addresses challenges including increased patient complexity, population growth of 3% since 2020, and insufficient existing training infrastructure.
The CQC rated both the headquarters/airbase (formerly Cosford) and Tatenhill airbase as “outstanding” following initial inspection. Both facilities achieved outstanding ratings for safety, responsiveness, effectiveness, and leadership, with caring rated as good.
The organisation surpassed 75,000 missions, representing approximately 40% more responses than any other UK air ambulance service.
A new H145 helicopter (G-HMAA) entered service on January 1st, 2025, with an experienced pilot and two critical care paramedics per mission. During its first week, it responded to ten incidents across multiple counties.
The Strensham Airbase received an “outstanding” rating from the CQC across all five assessment categories: safety, effectiveness, caring, responsiveness, and leadership.
The charity achieved its 80,000th mission, exceeding any other UK air ambulance charity. This milestone underscores the region’s reliance on rapid access to advanced critical care services.
The Strensham Airbase redevelopment project completed, featuring expanded hangars, modern crew facilities, and enhanced operational spaces. A £2.5million donation from County Air Ambulance Trust HELP Appeal funded this project.
The organisation marks 35 years of service since May 1991, celebrating its evolution through innovation and commitment to advanced clinical care delivery across the region.
Sir David Nicholson KCB CBE was appointed as the new patron, bringing extensive NHS and global health sector expertise to strengthen the charity’s mission delivering exceptional pre-hospital emergency care.
We continue to save lives across Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Worcestershire and the West Midlands, operating seven days a week, 365 days a year.
To continue this vital service, we need to raise in excess of in excess of £16 million each year and this is where we need your help.
It is because of you, our wonderful fundraisers, donors, corporate partners, volunteers, charitable trusts and foundations that the charity has managed to be where it is today and with your support we will continue to offer our lifesaving service to people in your area.
Make a one-time donation or become a regular supporter and know your gift saves lives every single day.