Great North Air Ambulance
Role: Air Ambulance

(West Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust).
The Great North Ambulance Service charity was established in May 1991, following the successful trial of a helicopter the previous year. In 1994 with public support, and a major donation from J. Barbour & Sons, an aircraft (G-NAAS) was bought and introduced into operation.

Originally called the Northumbria Air Ambulance. It initially operated for the Northumbria Ambulance Service NHS Trust, which then merged with Durham Ambulance Service NHS Trust to form the North East Ambulance Service NHS Trust in 1999. One helicopter based at Blyth, Northumberland, since 13 June 1994. From 1999 until 31st March 2002, further sponsorship by the AA helped to maintain the service. In 2003 G-NAAS moved to Teesside Airport and a Bo 105 was introduced to operate from Blyth.

A third helicopter was soon added in Cumbria. The Cumbria air ambulance (G-WAAN) had a difficult start. It was launched on 8 August 2004 but was grounded in February 2005 due to a lack of funding. It was re-launched six month later. It was the first air ambulance to be based in the county and cover the mountainous Lake District National Park. Initially based at Appleby, then at Penrith police headquarters, the aircraft will be stationed at a custom-built base in the Gillwilly Industrial Estate, Penrith.

The Bo 105 & AS.365 are operated by PDG Helicopters, and the MD902 by Specialist Aviation Services.

Air Bases:

Base	Duration
Blyth, Northumberland	June 1994 - 31 Mar 2005
Durham Tees Valley Airport	2003 - Present
Otterburn Camp DTE	2004 - Present
Penrith Police HQ	Aug 2004 - Present

Aircraft Used:

Type	Qty	Service	Example Serials
AS.355F1 Ecureuil 2	1	June 1994 - 2004	G-NAAS, Blyth/Durham, c/s 'Medic 02'
MBB Bo 105DBS	1	March 2003 - 31 Mar 2005	G-WYPA, Blyth/Durham, c/s ?
MDH MD902 Explorer	1	2004 - Present	G-GNAA, Durham, c/s 'Helimed 63'
MBB Bo 105DBS	1	Aug 2004 - Present	G-WAAN, Penrith, c/s ?
Aerospatiale AS.365N Dauphin 2	1	June 2006 - Present	G-HEMS, Otterburn, c/s ?

G-NAAS starboard side (photo, Steve Morgan)	G-NAAS port side (photo, Steve Morgan)
	G-NAAS in AA colours (photo, Iain Kitchen)

References:

• Great North Air Ambulance
• wikipedia: Great North Air Ambulance