The Thames Valley & Chiltern Air Ambulance (TVACAA) will be able to save more lives from July after the announcement that its current daily operational flight time will rise from 10 to 12 hours a day.

Cost, flight regulations and the inability to fly in the hours of darkness are all factors influencing the deployment of the air ambulance but the longer daylight hours in the summer allows longer flying time.

Pat Conafray, Head of Fundraising at TVACAA said: “Incident rates increase in the summer and longer daylight hours mean that more people are out and about on the roads and undertaking outdoor activities that can lead to accidents.

“The wonderful generosity of the people of Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire has enabled us to increase our flying time and to further improve the service we provide for them.”

The Thames Valley & Chiltern Air Ambulance will begin its 12 hour operation between 7am and 7pm on Monday 5th July 2010 and will continue until 5th October 2010.