Yorkshire Air Ambulance is looking ahead to the late summer when its current contracts for both pilotage and maintenance expire.  Both aspects are currently provided by Medical Aviation Services, but YAA has decided to “do its own thing” and will employ their own Chief Pilot and are working towards their own Air Operators Certificate.  Further announcements are expected in the coming weeks regarding the maintenance of their two MD Explorers.  YAA Representative Abby McClymont was unwilling to be drawn on previous industry rumours that this aspect will be awarded to Multiflight, who are based at Leeds-Bradford Airport.  Minimum requirements for the Chief Pilot include 2000 hours total, including over 500 in UK EMS, a JAR CPL(H) licence and rated on the MD Explorer.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance are one of only three EMS operations in the UK who own their own helicopters.  The others are Devon Air Ambulance and Great Northern Air Ambulance, the latter of which already work closely with Multiflight for their three Dauphins.

Jeremy Parkin – HeliHub.com