A NEW, custom-built air ambulance has touched down in north Wales.

The advanced Airbus H145 model has arrived at the airbase in Caernarfon, as part of a new fleet for Wales.

It completes the charity’s three helicopter upgrades being introduced this year, significantly enhancing its operations.

Wales Air Ambulance is the third HEMS (helicopter emergency medical service) operation to use the H145 aircraft. With the latest launch at Caernarfon Airport, the charity now runs the largest H145 fleet in the UK.

The new arrival replaces the EC135 model which was introduced to north Wales in 2009. The leased helicopters are operated on behalf of the charity by Babcock Mission Critical Services Onshore.

Operations manager Mark Winter said: “The H145 is a significantly more advanced machine, meaning we can do so much more for the people we help. The cabin is larger and has more light, so we can access patients easily in-flight and have room for all our medical equipment.

“When we introduced the EC135 to Caernarfon eight years ago we were excited it had a fourth seat for an additional medic or the parent of an injured child. Now we have five seats, which gives us even more scope for specialist medical passengers.

“One of the biggest differences is the H145’s night flying capability. The cockpit is set up for night vision technology. We have a weather radar, additional lights underneath and a ‘tracker light’ on the front, which is like a giant torch and incredibly powerful. These new features will make a difference to the work we can do after dark.”

See this week’s north editions for the full story, in shops and online on Thursday