Meet the helicopters you keep in the air. We operate two state-of-the-art H145 helicopters: G-RESU, callsign Anglia One, based in Norwich and G-HEMC, callsign Anglia Two, based in Cambridge.
These incredible aircraft are at the heart of our lifesaving mission – and, thanks to your support, they’re ready to respond 24/7.
Fun fact: Our helicopters are bright yellow because our very first sponsor was The AA! Over the years, we’ve changed aircraft to meet the needs of our patients and communities, but that distinctive colour has stayed.
Our aviation partner, Babcock, provides the helicopters, pilots, and engineers. Each H145 can carry:
With a cruising speed of around 140mph, we can cover 20 miles in under 10 minutes – getting critical care to the scene fast across the 5,326 square miles we serve.
‘Alpha’ means the helicopter is on a HEMS (Helicopter Emergency Medical Service) tasking, so it takes priority over other aircraft (except when there is a mayday call).
‘Echo’ means the aircraft is not on an emergency or carrying a patient, so normal priority applies.
Since June 2021, we have flown around the clock – the first air ambulance in the east of England to do so.
Why two pilots? Night flying is complex and safety is everything. Two pilots mean extra eyes, better decision-making, and a backup if one becomes unwell. Our clinicians also help with navigation and use night vision technology to spot hazards. It really is a team effort.
Explore our 3D helicopter to find out more about the cockpit controls and the medical equipment we carry.
G-RESU (Norwich) was one of the first aircraft of its type in the UK to be upgraded to the brand-new state-of-the-art five rotor blade ‘D3’ specification in 2022. Cambridge’s G-HEMC also received the upgrade in June 2023.
The increase in rotor blades on the H145 aircraft from four to five means they benefit from a reduction in vibrations in-flight. This enhances patient safety through more stable monitoring during the transfer to hospital.
The D3 upgrade is of particular significance during night time operations as the aircraft now provide greater payload and range when there are fewer options for landing and refuelling sites. A greater weight allowance and carrying more fuel on board could result in an extra half an hour of flying time.
Our pilots are highly skilled, many with military backgrounds where they have gained many years’ experience of flying to and landing at surveyed sites. iPads with Google Earth overlays support them to identify safe landing spots and hazards, like power lines.
You might see the helicopter circle in a ‘racetrack pattern’ before landing – that’s the crew checking for hazards and planning the safest landing site. To do this, they follow the Five S rule: Shape, Size, Surround, Surface, Slope. Downwash is also a vital safety consideration; the downwash created by the powerful rotor-blades is extremely powerful and is enough to throw debris into the air or cause somebody to fall. When it comes to helicopters and aviation, safety – for people in the air and on the ground – is everything.
Pilots keep a close eye on the weather all year round, as it can affect how they fly.
In summer, the hot air is thinner, which means the aircraft needs more power – and more fuel – to get airborne. In winter, frost and ice can build up on the helicopter, so pilots often move it into the hangar. It’s much quicker to roll the aircraft out, using a special piece of equipment called a Helilift, than to spend time de-icing when a call comes in.
Weather forecasts and maps are monitored constantly. If strong winds are predicted – over 30 knots – the team will consider the impact on the rotor blades and may also move the helicopter inside.
Our pilots are fully trained to fly using instruments alone and the aircraft is equipped with a state-of-the-art autopilot system for instrument approaches to airfields.
For daytime flying, we need a cloud base of at least 600ft and visibility of 1.5km. At night, that increases to 1,200ft and 2.5km. A live weather display in the crew room helps the team plan ahead.
If conditions mean the helicopter can’t fly, our 24/7 service continues without interruption because our critical care cars carry the same life-saving equipment as the helicopter – everything except a stretcher – so patients still receive the highest level of care.
When Anglian One (Norwich) requires refuelling during the day, we use the refuellers from Norwich Airport as we are based on the airport complex. At night, the crew has a 2,000-litre bowser so the pilots can refuel the aircraft themselves.
At Cambridge, the Anglia Two aircraft also has a 2,000-litre bowser that is available around the clock for pilots to refuel the helicopter when required.
Our H145 helicopter has two engines. It can still fly on just one if needed, though the pilots will notice a little less power, especially when landing.
When it comes to looking after the aircraft, some maintenance happens right at home in our own hangars thanks to Babcock engineers. For bigger jobs or regular deep servicing, the helicopters head to Babcock’s bases in Staverton or Glasgow.
We’ve got one Babcock engineer based in Cambridge and two in Norwich, but if we need extra hands, Babcock can send more. Their work covers everything from engines and gearboxes to rotor blades. And while our helicopter is being serviced, they provide a replacement aircraft – usually a bright yellow H145 with the callsign G-EMSS – so we can keep delivering our lifesaving service by air without interruption.
Your support keeps our helicopters flying and saving lives every single day. Thank you for making this possible.
We have been flying at night since May 2013. We were the first air ambulance in the country to attend Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) incidents in the hours of darkness to unknown and unlit sites and began flying 24/7 from Norwich in June 2021.
East Anglian Air Ambulance’s expert doctors and critical care paramedics provide critical care, including blood transfusions, advanced pain relief, sedation and anaesthesia, and surgical interventions at the scene of medical emergencies.
The high-tech equipment carried by East Anglian Air Ambulance helicopters and critical care cars enables enhanced care at the incident scene – when the patient needs it most.
