Thames Valley & Chiltern Air Ambulance
Role: Air Ambulance

The Thames Valley Air Ambulance was first established in 1999 as one of six air ambulance charities sponsored by the AA for a period of three years. The charity itself was incorporated in 2000. It initially covered Berkshire and Oxfordshire, but Buckinghamshire was added later. Hence, the Royal Berkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust and the Oxfordshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust jointly provided the paramedic crew, although operational tasking was provided by the former. The service consisted of one helicopter based at White Waltham airfield, from late May/early June 1999.

In January 2007, the base for the helicopter was relocated from White Waltham near Maidenhead to RAF Benson near Wallingford in Oxfordshire. The new EC135 is liveried in a distinctive red and yellow colour scheme, with a new registration of G-HBOB reflecting the counties it serves. The helicopter is operated by Bond Air Services.

Air Bases:

Base	Duration
White Waltham	May 1999 - Jan 2007
RAF Benson	Jan 2007 - Present

Aircraft Used:

Type	Qty	Service	Example Serials
MBB Bo 105DBS-4	1	May 1999 - late 1999	G-NAAB, c/s 'Helimed 10'
Agusta A.109E Power	1	late 1999 - 2001	G-TVAA
Agusta A.109E Power	1	2001 - 2003	G-TVAC
MBB Bo 105DBS-4	1	2003 - July 2008	G-TVAM
Eurocopter EC.135T2+	1	July 2008 - Present	G-HBOB, c/s 'Helimed 24'

G-TVAA (photo, Iain Kitchen)	G-TVAA rear view (photo, Iain Kitchen)

References:

• Thames Valley & Chiltern Air Ambulance