Cornwall Air Ambulance wins planning approval for new hangar

Cornwall Air Ambulance wins planning approval for new hangar

1-Dec-2010 Source: HeliHub.com

Cornwall Air Ambulance has won planning permission for a new operational base on the boundary of Newquay Cornwall Airport. The location is currently just outside the airport’s security fence, but the plans call for a fence move to ensure the new helipad continues to be airside. Positioned just south of the “piano keys” of Runway 30, the site is to the north of the A3059 road in an area known as Trevithick Downs.

The new environmental friendly building will include accommodation for the paramedic aircrew and pilots, together with medical stores and specialised clinical cleaning rooms. The hangar is designed to take two helicopters, and includes various workshop facilities. Two helipads to the north of the building complete the operational picture. The new facility will also include offices for the fundraising and business side of the charity that runs the operation, not commonly found in EMS operations in the UK. This will lead to the team moving from its current offices near Roche.

While the Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust currently flies one Eurocopter EC135, the new building is planned with expansion in mind. HeliHub.com understands that the Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust plans to add a second aircraft in due course, hence the provision of two helipads and a hangar suitable for two EC135s. Checking the charity’s financial statements shows a figure of £3.55 million as its net assets at 31 December 2009, so it may not be too long before they feel able to add a second aircraft – remembering that they need to build their new facility first!

The current operation is via a charity called First Air Ambulance Service Trust, which has the working name of “Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust”. HeliHub.com also notes the existenace of a separate charity called Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust which was registered in December 2009, and for which no financial statements have yet been filed. HeliHub.com is not aware of why two charities are required for this operation. The three trustees of the newer charity are all in the current board of the eight trustees of the current charity.

Useful links
Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust
– Planning application
official documents
plans, elevations etc
Charities Commission page for First Air Ambulance Service Trust (299000)
Charities Commission page for Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust (1133295)

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