The Air Ambulance

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance (HIOWAA) flies an Airbus H135.

Take a tour in and around our aircraft with Chief Pilot Nigel Thomson and HEMS Paramedic Nicola Hawkes.

Explore our aircraft, Helimed56, to find out more about the spec of our aircraft. Click on the image to move around our airbase.

Our thanks go to the team at Viewit360 for creating our virtual airbase tour.

About Helimed56:
In 2014 we announced our commitment to full night flying capability, and in October 2015 the enhanced model Airbus H135 helicopter, specially equipped for night flying, arrived at our airbase in Thruxton.

The H135 is an upgraded version of our previous helicopter, the EC135. Like the EC135, the H135 can land in an area the size of a tennis court and can be anywhere in Hampshire within 15 minutes and the Isle of Wight in 20 minutes. It also has skids, which are ideal for the varied terrain we have in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.  The H135 is known for its high endurance,  compact build, low sound levels, reliability and versatility.

The H135 can carry three or four crew members which means that, not only are we able to carry a doctor and a paramedic on board most flights, but sometimes a family member can also travel with the patient.

For the more technically minded:

Engines: Two Turbomeca ARRIUS 2B2PLUS
Maximum take off weight: 2,980 kg
Length: 12.26 metres
Fast cruise speed: 157 mph – 252 km/h –  136 knots
Range: 801 km, 432 NM.  Our routine range would be 633 km, 341 NM.
Endurance:  4 hours 40 mins. To allow for the carriage of a patient immediately, we do not fly with full tanks.  We can fly for approximately 1 hour 40 minutes before having to refuel.

The H135 is additionally fitted with two Garmin 750 GPS systems; moving map displays;  two iPad minis; a power line detection system; Fenn Night Vision Goggles and a Trakka high intensity searchlight.