Capital Air Ambulance
(Capital), the aeromedical brand of Rigby Group’s
aviation division and the UK’s No 1 provider of
fixed wing air ambulance services, is now offering
global medical and repatriation flights following
the addition of a Learjet 45 Aircraft to its growing
fleet. The
new aircraft - added to Capital’s Air Operator’s
Certificate with worldwide coverage this month - has
already completed operations to India and the United
Arab Emirates and has enabled the UK’s preeminent
domestically owned aeromedical operator to begin
offering unlimited international services with
immediate effect.
Lisa Humphries,
Accountable Manager said: “The addition of the
Learjet 45 to our fleet, and the global reach that
it affords us, represents a hugely significant
milestone for Capital Air Ambulance and our strategy
for expansion.
“With five
aircraft now in active service from two UK bases, a
highly trained staff of over 100 medical personnel
and unique status as Britain’s only Eurami
accredited operator, we are positioned to provide a
level of high quality, cost-effective aeromedical
services few can rival.”
To cater for a
significant increase in its workload, Capital’s
medical department has now recruited and trained
over 100 specialist flight nurses and doctors under
the direction of Medical Director Dr Terry Martin -
representing more than a 40% increase in crew
numbers since mid- 2016.
With its fleet
based at Exeter and Coventry airports, Capital
provides rapid response medical repatriation
services 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to clients.
Employing a highly experienced Operations team,
Capital can deliver a vast range of aeromedical
services utilising its own aircraft, providing
medical escorts on scheduled commercial carriers or
arranging ground transportation. With a 30-year
track record in repatriating British citizens when
they have been injured or fallen ill in a foreign
country, it is the only accredited UK air ambulance
company to operate its own fleet of air ambulances.
Capital also provides bed-to-bed transfers for the
full spectrum of patients with acute and chronic
medical conditions, using its dedicated fleet and
commercial airliners. Since 2014 the company has
been part of the Rigby Group plc aviation division,
a trusted flying partner to the Royal Navy and
experienced Search & Rescue service provider.
It unveiled plans
for significant expansion into the European market
in July 2016.
Paul Southall,
Director Rigby Group Plc commented: “In little more
than six months since announcing its growth strategy
Capital has once again performed beyond
expectations, not only by recording a marked
increase in flights across Europe and surpassing
targets for specialist crew recruitment but -
following today’s announcement - by also extending
its reach to offer worldwide services. “It has long
been our belief that there is a significant
opportunity for a UK operator to mount a serious
challenge to Europe’s established aeromedical
players, and Capital’s continued growth only serves
to demonstrate that. There is still much more to be
achieved, however, and we look forward to continuing
this success story in the years ahead.” |