Thanks to Sherie for sharing this great news from the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance. Ed
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance has been able to bring into operation two new landing sites during the hours of darkness.
Until the construction work is carried out on the main helipad at St. Mary’s Hospital, a secondary landing site, at Seaclose on the Isle of Wight, has been arranged with temporary landing lights and surveyed for night landing.
The test flight which took place recently ensured everything worked very well which means it is now ready for operational night landings.
Surrey site
Frimley Park Hospital is the second new helipad cleared for night landings. The newly lit helipad which sits on our borders, also had its test flight a short time ago to ensure everything was in working order. All went to plan and both sites are now “open” for lit night landings.
Councillor Barry Lipscomb, Chairman of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance said ‘This is great news for our service, giving the Air Ambulance the ability to land at night at both of these hospitals and carry out transfers where appropriate. This means the life saving service we offer can be available for additional operational hours. During the winter months this is more important as daylight hours are reduced significantly therefore we hope this service will mean we can respond to more patients when they need us most.’
