9-Jan-2025Source: Great Western Air Ambulance
Great Western Air Ambulance Charity (GWAAC) has been called to a record number of incidents in 2024. The specialist crew responded to 2,272 people in urgent need of critical care — an increase of around 15% compared to 2023. Since the charity incepted in 2007, incident numbers have been steadily increasing and the demand for... Read more
3-Dec-2024Source: Great Western Air Ambulance
Air Ambulances UK hosted its 2024 Awards of Excellence on Thursday 28 November and Great Western Air Ambulance Charity (GWAAC) is proud to announce that it brought home awards in two categories: Young Person of the Year and Breaking Barriers. The annual awards celebrate and recognise the dedicated professionals who tirelessly contribute their specialist lifesaving... Read more
9-Jul-2024Source: Great Western Air Ambulance Charity
Great Western Air Ambulance Charity (GWAAC) has been called to a record number of incidents in the first half of 2024. The specialist crew responded to 1,159 people in urgent need of critical care between 1 January and the end of June — an increase of around 21% compared to the same period last year.... Read more
20-Oct-2023Source: Great Western Air Ambulance
On 2 October 2023, Great Western Air Ambulance Charity (GWAAC) appointed Tim Ross-Smith to a brand-new role that was created in collaboration with South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASfT). As GWAAC’s Operations Officer, Tim is line-managing the Advanced Practitioners and Specialist Paramedics in Critical Care. He will be leading on the operational, rather... Read more
31-Jul-2023Source: Great Western Air Ambulance
Great Western Air Ambulance Charity (GWAAC) welcomes Dr Andy Lockyer and Dr Andrew Heavyside as Medical Director and Assistant Medical Director respectively. The Consultant Doctors have been an integral part of GWAAC’s Critical Care Team for a number of years and are highly thought of by peers and colleagues across the charity. Following a rigorous... Read more
22-Nov-2022Source: GWAAC
On Monday 14 November 2022, the Air Ambulances UK Awards of Excellence returned to Edgbaston Stadium in Birmingham. It was a chance to celebrate and recognise the specialist lifesaving skills and commitment of all those working tirelessly within, and in support of, the air ambulance community. The night turned out to be a huge success... Read more
22-Sep-2022Source: Babcock
Babcock and Great Western Air Ambulance Charity (GWAAC) have announced a five-year contract extension to keep the helicopter emergency medical service up in the sky saving lives. The contract will see Babcock, a leading UK provider of specialist air ambulance operations, continue to provide exclusive aviation support to the charity, including helicopters fitted with the... Read more
26-Jan-2021Source: Great Western Air Ambulance
Our Critical Care Team were called to around five patients a day on average across 2020, despite the COVID-19 pandemic causing national lockdowns and restrictions throughout much of the year. The crew were called to 1,726 patients in urgent need across Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset, Gloucestershire, South Gloucestershire, and surrounding areas.... Read more
8-Dec-2020Source: Great Western Air Ambulance
In response to the pressures of COVID-19, GWAAC have introduced a new bespoke counselling service for our crew who have been working on the frontline during the pandemic. Our Specialist Paramedics and Critical Care Doctors have continued to remain ready to respond to those in need throughout the pandemic, supporting NHS and frontline colleagues in... Read more
10-Aug-2020Source: Great Western Air Ambulance
With the summer upon us and many of you planning activities out in the wonderful countryside we have here in our region – we are urging you to download the What3Words app to help us help you. The app, which has divided the world up into three metre squares, each with a unique three-word address,... Read more
8-Jun-2020Source: Great Western Air Ambulance Charity
We are delighted to announce that our Specialist paramedic in Critical Care (SPCC), Vicki Brown, has been appointed as the first Advanced Practitioner in Critical Care (APCC) in the South West. The new role, which was developed by the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) will benefit GWAAC’s crew and the patients they... Read more
14-Apr-2020Source: Great Western Air Ambulance Charity
As of Friday 10th April, Great Western Air Ambulance Charity (GWAAC) are supplying Specialist Paramedics in Critical Care to assist in transferring critically ill COVID-19 patients between hospitals in the region, supporting the NHS in the fight against the virus. Members of their crew will be joining part of a multi-disciplinary team carrying out inter-hospital... Read more
1-Apr-2020Source: Air BP
Air BP, the aviation division of BP, will provide free jet fuel for use by the helicopters of a number of UK air ambulance services, supporting their life-saving work during the current coronavirus pandemic. The air ambulance crews are on stand-by 24/7, ready to respond to emergencies where they are needed most. All these services are... Read more
30-Sep-2019Source: Great Western Air Ambulance
Great Western Air Ambulance Charity (GWAAC) were delighted to welcome His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester to officially open our new purpose-built emergency operations base in Almondsbury on Wednesday 25th September. Moving in to the new site was a huge milestone for us, having celebrated our 10th birthday last year. GWAAC’s Critical Care Team... Read more
11-Sep-2018Source: HELP Appeal
Great Western Air Ambulance Charity (GWAAC) today welcomed Robert Bertram, Chief Executive of the HELP (Helicopter Emergency Landing Pads) Appeal to their air base. During the visit he met with representatives from GWAAC to find out more about their new air base, which is currently under construction in Almondsbury. The HELP Appeal is the only... Read more
10-Apr-2018Source: Babcock
More good news – Babcock has secured a new five-year relationship with the Great Western Air Ambulance charity (GWAAC)! This means we will continue to provide the charity with full aviation support, including flight operations and maintenance of their EC135 T2+.aircraft – G-GWAC – until at least March 2023. Managing Director of Babcock Onshore, Tim... Read more
9-Nov-2017Source: NPAS
Work has begun on the new National Police Air Service (NPAS) base in Almondsbury, South Gloucester which is due to be operational in autumn 2018. NPAS and Great Western Air Ambulance (GWAAC) will be housed at the new base funded by BAE Systems. BAE Systems purchased the land in Almondsbury for use by GWAAC and... Read more
14-Aug-2017Source: HeliHub.com
Great Western Air Ambulance Charity is excited to receive their new EC135T2+ helicopter. The new helicopter will be able fly 45 minutes longer than their previous model, has upgraded control systems and comfier seats for the crew. The team is delighted with the new helicopter and the fact that they will now be able to... Read more
16-Dec-2016Source: HeliHub.com
Plans submitted by the Great Western Air Ambulance Charity for a helicopter base in Almondsbury have been approved. It’s been a long struggle for the campaign, after the local residents argued against it. As reported by Gazette Series, they were concerned over the noise pollution, disturbances due to night flights and the environmental concern of... Read more
12-Aug-2016Source: HeliHub.com
The controversial proposals for a dual-service heliport at Almondsbury have now received planning approval, according to the Gazette series. The site, close to the junction of the M4 and M5 motorways, will become the new base for both the National Police Air Service and the Great Western Air Ambulance in the Bristol area. Both currently... Read more
4-Apr-2016Source: HeliHub.com
South Gloucestershire Council has reversed its approval for a new helicopter base in Almondsbury following a legal challenge. The heliport was planned to serve both the Great Western Air Ambulance and the National Police Air Service, whose helicopters are currently based at Filton Airfield. Filton, most famous for its role in the development of the... Read more
18-Jan-2016Source: Great Western Air Ambulance Charity
The rise is down to our new helicopter, a Eurocopter 135, which arrived at our base in Filton in October 2014. In 2015 HM65 and her crew attended 1,655 life-saving incidents across Bristol, Bath, Gloucestershire, South Gloucestershire, North Somerset and parts of Wiltshire. This is an increase of 270 incidents compared to 2014, when we... Read more
14-Dec-2015Source: Gazette
A PROPOSED helicopter base in Almondsbury could have its planning permission quashed following a judicial review brought forward by nearby residents. See Full Story ... Read more
26-Oct-2015Source: Great Western
The GWAAC helicopter is celebrating one year of saving lives across Bristol, Bath, North Somerset, Gloucestershire, South Gloucestershire and parts of Wiltshire. Our Eurocopter 135, callsign Helimed 65, arrived at our Filton base on 16th October 2014. To celebrate her first birthday we’re going to have a party! We’re planning to surprise our crew on... Read more
7-Sep-2015Source: GWAAC
GWAAC is carrying blood on the helicopter and rapid response vehicles which will benefit seriously ill and injured patients in need of emergency blood transfusion. The charity has teamed up with Wiltshire Air Ambulance (WAA) to fund the initiative. WAA is also carrying blood on its helicopter. This means that the two air ambulances are... Read more
6-Aug-2015Source: Bath Chronicle
Beer lovers will soon be able to support the local air ambulance while enjoying their favourite tipple.See Full Story.... Read more
2-Jun-2015Source: Now Bath
The charity was formed in 2008, and the crew attended their first mission on 3rd June. See Full Story... Read more
16-Oct-2014Source: GWAAC
After a big fundraising campaign and support from members of the public Great Western Air Ambulance Charity have today received their new helicopter. The Eurocopter 135 will replace the current helicopter, an aging Bolkow, enabling the charity to transform the care they are able to offer to patients. The Movin’ On Up campaign was launched... Read more
10-Oct-2014Source: Bristol Post
A PLEDGE has been given by the owners of Filton Airfield to help find a new home for both the police helicopter and Great Western Air Ambulance. See Full Story... Read more
6-Jun-2014Source: HeliHub.com
Bond Air Services have confirmed to HeliHub.com that the contract they have with Great Western Air Ambulance will see an aircraft upgrade in October 2014. The move is largely prompted by their current Bo105 being incapable of operating from the newly-opened helipad at Bristol Royal Infirmary, one of two hospitals in the centre of GWAA’s... Read more
11-May-2014Source: HeliHub.com
The Great Western Air Ambulance Trust (GWAA) has confirmed to HeliHub.com that they expect to upgrade from their current Bo105 helicopter to an Airbus Helicopters EC135 this summer, with the target of the third week of August. GWAA is one of just two UK air ambulance operators in the UK flying the Bo105, with Scotland’s... Read more
2-May-2014Source: HeliHub.com
Trial flights commenced on Thursday 17th April of the newly constructed helideck facility on the roof of Bristol Royal Infirmary – Initial trials were conducted using the Great Western Air Ambulance Bo105 helicopter, as depicted in the images here. Air ambulance MBB Bolkow105DBS-4, G-NDAA, undertook the first test flight on 17th April to prove the capability... Read more
3-Jul-2013Source: BBC
Great Western Air Ambulance said its current helicopter is too old to land at the £500,000 helipad being built at the Bristol Royal Infirmary. see full story... Read more
22-Jun-2012
BAE Systems says it will dedicate an area of Filton Airfield to the Great Western Air Ambulance Charity after the closure of the airfield in December. The charity is launching its fundraising campaign next month to upgrade from its current 1968-build Bo105 with a more up-to-date EC135. (see full story)... Read more
16-Sep-2011Source: HeliHub.com
The British operator Great Western Air Ambulance Service has confirmed that it will remain at Filton, near Bristol, despite the sale of its current airfield home as it is no longer viable to owners BAE Systems. The Chief Executive of BAE, Ian King, has told GWAA that they will ensure that its home will remain... Read more
9-Aug-2011
The long held ambition will soon be realised after Great Western Ambulance Service (GWAS) agreed last week to relinquish its sole trusteeship of the appeal. GWAS had been criticised by air ambulance campaigners for being the sole trustee of the appeal. (Full story)... Read more
20-Jan-2011Source: BBC
Paul Weir, chief executive of the Great Western Air Ambulance, said the service was just breaking even at the moment, but that could change if the price of fuel continues to rise. They operate a Eurocopter Bo105... Read more
2-Aug-2010Source: Gazette
Chief executive of the air ambulance Paul Weir said: “We are delighted Eastwood Park has been able to accommodate us and at very charitable rates”... Read more
