Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance are expecting to take delivery of a second Leonardo AW169 in the next two years. In a recently published newsletter, CEO Charles Hackett announced that the charity “have secured a delivery slot from the helicopter manufacturer and we have the initial design scheme for the operational base upgrade”. The very fact that they have a confirmed delivery slot confirms they must have paid a deposit.

The acquisition of a second aircraft is to both provide maintenance cover for their primary aircraft – without the need to lease an aircraft in – but also to enable the expansion to 24×7 operations. Currently Dorset & Somerset fly 19 hours a day from 7am to 2am, seven days a week.

Adding a second helicopter will also need a larger hangar and other facilities, as noted in Hackett’s statement.

The current AW169 is based at Henstridge Airfield, usefully located right on the boundary between the two counties. It is operated by Gama Aviation on their AOC.