Leonardo announced that Magpas Air Ambulance had selected the AW169 for its medical evacuation missions during the Farnborough show. Specialist Aviation Services (SAS) will customize the aircraft with a fully medical interior and operate the helicopter on behalf of Magpas Air Ambulance. It will also provide crews and all maintenance services. Magpas Air Ambulance is one of the leading providers of emergency medical services and the oldest emergency medical charity in the UK. The organization, which will raise funds for the AW169 in spring 2019, operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, throughout the year. Magpas Air Ambulance chose the AW169 especially for its medical interior allowing patients 360 ° access, improving the effectiveness of daily rescue missions.
The current MD 902 Explorer operated at Magpas Air Ambulance entered service 17 years ago and has been operated by Magpas Air Ambulance since June 2012. Although the current model has been used by thousands of patients over the past six years and that it has helped the charity to respond to its largest number of activations so far, in 2017, it is now reaching the end of its operational life.
